ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Cetaceans

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the number of cetaceans killed as a result of fishing by catch in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Information on the full extent of dolphin casualties caused by fishing is not available.
	Sample surveys carried out by the Sea Mammal Research Unit on behalf of DEFRA on UK vessels have recorded 61 animals killed since January 2001 as a result of bycatch in the bass fishery, of which eight occurred in the last 12 months. In this period, no bycatch has been observed in any other fishery. We are currently conducting trials into the use of exclusion devices to reduce bycatch in the bass fishery.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to decide whether to allow the new rights of access under part 1 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to be implemented on a regional basis; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: I am pleased to be able to tell my hon. Friend that this issue has now been resolved and I announced my decision to implement the new right of access on a regional basis via a written ministerial statement on 28 November 2002, Official Report, columns 48–49WS.

Desalination

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the desalination of sea water for drinking water purposes.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 3 December 2002
	There are a number of sources for providing raw water for treatment to drinking water standards for the public water supply. The principal sources from which water is abstracted at present are surface waters (rivers and reservoirs) and groundwater (e.g. chalk aquifers).
	Desalination of sea water is energy intensive and results in waste products that are difficult to dispose of, and is currently not viewed as a sustainable option. Desalination would need to be identified as an option in a water undertaker's water resources plan, and agreed with the Environment Agency, if it were to be considered an option for public water supply.

Fisheries

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what United Kingdom legislation will restrict the number of days at sea for fishing vessels capturing and landing cod from 1 January 2003; whether amendments to legislation are necessary to achieve Government objectives; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Fuel Poverty

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of fuel poverty in rural areas.

Elliot Morley: A summary report published in August 2001, Fuel Poverty in England 1998, estimated that around 19 per cent. of rural households were in fuel poverty, compared with 15 per cent. of urban households. These figures will be updated in due course with the release of the 2001 English House Condition Survey.
	The depth of fuel poverty in rural areas may be affected by a number of factors. These include the disproportionate number of households which are off the mains gas network and properties which are considered hard to heat.
	A working group was established in 2001 to investigate extension of the gas network. There is evidence that lack of access to mains gas, which is currently the cheapest and most efficient fuel for domestic heating, contributes to keeping households in fuel poverty. The Working Group concluded that a full-scale extension of the gas network could not be justified on cost benefit grounds, but that extension to a more limited extent would be justified in certain cases. Work is progressing on identifying priority areas for any possible future extensions of the gas network.
	My Department recently commissioned a scoping study which is looking at the potential for alternative technologies to help tackle fuel poverty. This could be of particular relevance for rural communities, especially areas without access to the gas network. The study will also consider alternative methods for the treatment of 'hard to heat' homes. The report is expected early in the new year.
	The Fuel Poverty Advisory Group, which was set up to advise Government on achieving its goal of ending fuel poverty, is also looking at issues which effect rural areas. It has already considered a paper on households without access to gas and is due to discuss households which are considered to be 'hard to heat'.

Kyoto Protocol

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects that the United Kingdom will meet its emission standards under the Kyoto Protocol.

Michael Meacher: We expect to meet our current commitment under the Kyoto Protocol during the period 2008 to 2012. The UK is committed under the Protocol to achieve an emissions reduction of at least 12.5 per cent. on average over these five years. The reduction is relative to base year emissions in 1990 for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, and 1995 for the fluorinated greenhouse gases. Compliance will be assessed after 2012. UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2000 were 13 per cent. below those in the base year.

Livestock Premiums

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to ensure prompt payments to farmers in respect of the beef premium, suckler cow premium and slaughter premiums.

Alun Michael: EC rules do not allow payment of premium in respect of the Beef Special Premium, Suckler Cow Premium and Slaughter Premium to be made before 16 October of the calendar year to which payments apply.
	The prompt payment of claims for advance payment of 2002 bovine premia depends on a number of factors including:
	the animals must have completed their retention period;
	claims must be error free;
	the animals must have completed their cross check against the Cattle Tracing System database.
	To date, payment has been made on 48.54 per cent. of Beef Special Premiums and 33.04 per cent. of Slaughter Premiums claims. The remaining unpaid claims have been delayed because they have failed to meet one of the criteria outlined above.
	No payments have yet been made on the Suckler Cow Premiums because of the need to re-write the Suckler Cow Premiums IT system. Payments are however expected to begin in late December.

Official Engagements

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list her official engagements in the week commencing 25 November 2002.

Alun Michael: The Secretary of State makes it a practice not to publish her diary. Much of her time this week has necessarily been taken up with essential meetings with ministerial colleagues and officials on the various aspects of this Department's wide ranging portfolio. In addition to this, she had speaking engagements on both Monday and Tuesday. Immediately after Cabinet on Thursday, she travelled to Brussels, to attend the monthly Agriculture Council for the remainder of the week.

Water Abstraction

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been conducted for (a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency on sites which (i) have been damaged by water abstraction and (ii) are threatened by continued water abstraction since 1995; and if she will list the locations of these sites.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 3 December 2002
	The Environment Agency has set up the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme to co-ordinate the assessment of the impact of water abstraction upon the environment. The programme brings together work relating to:
	the review of consents required on European designated sites under the Conservation (Habitat &c.) Regulations 1994
	the statutory duty under Section 28G of the Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000 in relation to Sites of Special Scientific Interest
	non-designated sites.
	The aims of the programme are to identify and investigate sites, both rivers and wetlands, where water abstraction may potentially be causing an impact upon the environment. Where it is demonstrated that such an impact is taking place, steps are taken to identify, justify and develop alternative, more sustainable sources of water.
	The Agency is working closely with English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales to identify designated sites that should be included in the programme. Sites within the programme are prioritised according to their importance, i.e. the level of designation, and urgency, i.e. the environmental risk posed. The Agency is developing a timetable for progressing investigations of these sites taking into account its available resources.
	Until the investigation work has been completed there is no definitive list available of all sites which have been, or are threatened with damage as a result of abstraction except for a list of SSSIs where investigations have shown that abstractions are having a detrimental impact. The table details sites where investigations have shown that abstractions are having a significant detrimental impact and remedial action has been taken and completed.
	
		
			 SSSI name County Abstractor Action taken  
		
		
			 Chippenham Fen Cambridgeshire — Compensation borehole 
			 Thriplow Peat Holes Cambridgeshire — Compensation borehole 
			 Ashwell Springs Hertfordshire — Compensation water provided 
			 Cornard Mere Suffolk — Compensation water increased 
			 Edgbaston Pool West Midlands Golf club Alternative supply found 
			 Old Rectory Meadows Buckinghamshire Thames Water and Three Valleys Water River Misbourne alleviation scheme 
			 Redgrave and Lopham Fen Suffolk Essex and Suffolk Water Cessation of abstraction and relocation of borehole 
			 Sandwich Bay and Hacklinge Marshes Kent Southern Water Licence revocation. 
			 River Gelt Cumbria United Utilities Modification of intake structures 
			 North Dartmoor (Taw Marsh) Devon South West Water Licence revocation 
		
	
	The sites in the table have had funding agreed through the Periodic Review of water prices for the period 2000–04 to allow implementation of solutions to alleviate the impact of water company abstractions. Other sites have been funded for investigation only, and any necessary remedial action will be taken as appropriate.
	
		
			 SSSI name County Abstractor Action taken Completion date 
		
		
			 River Eden and Tributaries Cumbria North West Water Relocation of the discharge of compensation flow to remove dry stretch. 2002 
			 East Ruston Common Norfolk Anglian Water Reduction of licensed abstraction by 50 per cent. at East Ruston. 2003 
			 Bowland Fells Lancashire North West Water Investigation, reduction and relocation as well as new treatment works. 2003 
			 The Moors, Bishop's Waltham Hampshire Portsmouth Water Close pumping station and develop new source. 2003 
			 Severn Trent Water: Blakedown Brook 
			 South Staffs Water: Hurcott and Podmore Pools Worcestershire Severn Trent Water and South Staffordshire Water Severn Trent Water: low flow river compensation works to provide up to 2MI/d into the Blakedown Book. Diverted output and additional flow. Reduction in groundwater abstration. 2003 
			 Arundel Park West Sussex Southern Water Partial licence revocation. 2003 
			 River Camel Cornwall South West Water Investigate and adjust licence operating conditions 2003 
			 Speen (part of Kennet and Lambourn SAC) Berkshire Thames Water Precautionary investigation of possible impact through monitoring of shallow groundwater head. Implement solution. 2003 
			 River Avon Wiltshire Wessex Water Reduction of abstraction at Chitterne and use of other sources 2003 
			 River Itchen Hampshire Southern Water (SW) and Portsmouth Water (PW) Input to catchment modelling investigations and implementation. SW: general R. Itchen SAC investigation. PW: R. Itchen model Fish Screen not included in price limits 2004 
			 Didlington Park Lakes Norfolk Anglian Water Investigation and abstraction reduction (25 per cent. at two boreholes). 2005 
			 Kenninghall and Banham Fens and Quidenham Mere Norfolk Anglian Water Investigation to identify potential impact and abstraction reduction by 25 per cent. at three boreholes. 2005 
			 Sheringham and Beeston Regis Common Norfolk Anglian Water Investigations and relocation of public water supply boreholes. 2005 
			 Yare Broads and Marshes Norfolk Anglian Water Investigation and reduction of licensed abstraction by 75 per cent. at Strumpshaw. 2005 
			 Fowlmere Cambridgeshire Cambridge Water Investigation and reduction in licensed abstraction by 50 per cent. 2005 
			 Cattawade Marshes Essex Essex and Suffolk Water Investigation and reduction in licensed abstraction 2005 
			 Aqualate Mere Staffordshire Severn Trent Water Investigate low-flow river and implement solution 2005 
			 Hewell Park Lake Worcestershire Severn Trent Water Implement compensation from Brockhill source during low water levels 2005 
			 Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows Berkshire Thames Investigate and implement solution, including possible modification to licence at Pangbourne 2005

Water Abstraction

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the sites where action has been taken by (a) her Department and (b) the Environment Agency since 1995 on SSSIs which (i) have been damaged and (ii) are threatened with damage from water abstraction, and in each case list the nature of this action.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 3 December 2002
	The Environment Agency regulates water abstraction and is the statutory body with a duty to secure the proper use of water resources in England and Wales.
	The Environment Agency and English Nature are working closely together to identify those SSSIs which are, or may be, affected by abstraction. In September 1999 the joint Agency and English Nature document 'Water abstraction and Sites of Special Scientific Interest in England' was published. This document contains details of SSSIs identified as being potentially linked to abstraction. Subsequently a limited number of additional sites have been highlighted and included in the Agency's Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme.
	The following table details sites where investigations have shown that abstractions are having a significant detrimental impact and remedial action has been taken and completed.
	
		
			 SSSI name County Abstractor Action taken 
		
		
			 Chippenham Fen Cambridgeshire — Compensation borehole 
			 Thriplow Peat Holes Cambridgeshire — Compensation borehole 
			 Ashwell Springs Hertfordshire — Compensation water provided 
			 Cornard Mere Suffolk — Compensation water increased 
			 Edgbaston Pool West Midlands Golf club Alternative supply found 
			 Old Rectory Meadows Buckinghamshire Thames Water and Three Valleys Water PWS; River Misbourne alleviation scheme 
			 Redgrave and Lopham Fen Suffolk Essex and Suffolk Water Cessation of abstraction and relocation of borehole 
			 Sandwich Bay and Hacklinge Marshes Kent Southern Water Licence revocation 
			 River Gelt Cumbria United Utilities Modification of intake structures 
			 North Dartmoor (Taw Marsh) Devon South West Water Licence revocation 
		
	
	The sites in the table below have had funding agreed through Asset Management Plan 3 (AMPS) for implementation of solutions to alleviate the impact of abstraction. Other sites have been funded for investigation only, any necessary remedial action will be taken as appropriate.
	
		
			 SSSI name County Abstractor Action taken Completion date 
		
		
			 River Eden and Tributaries Cumbria North West Water Relocation of the discharge of compensation flow to remove dry stretch 2002 
			 East Ruston Common Norfolk Anglian Water Reduction of licensed abstraction by 50 per cent. at East Ruston 2003 
			 Bowland Fells Lancashire North West Water Investigation, reduction and relocation as well as new treatment works 2003 
			 The Moors, Bishop's Waltham Hampshire Portsmouth Water Close pumping station and develop new source 2003 
			 Severn Trent Water: Blakedown Brook Worcestershire Seven Trent Water and South Staffordshire Water Severn Trent Water: low flow river compensation works to provide up to 2Ml/d into the Blakedown Brook 2003 
			 South Staffs Water: Hurcott and Podmore Pools   Diverted output and additional flows. Reduction in groundwater abstraction  
			 Arundel Park West Sussex Southern Water Partial licence revocation 2003 
			 River Camel Cornwall South West Water Investigate and adjust licence operating conditions 2003 
			 Speen (part of Kennet and Lambourn SAC) Berkshire Thames Water Precautionary investigation of possible impact through monitoring of shallow groundwater head. Implement solution 2003 
			 River Avon Wiltshire Wessex Water Reduction of abstraction at Chitterne and use of other sources 2003 
			 River Itchen Hampshire Southern Water and Portsmouth Water Input to catchment modelling investigations and implementation. SW: general R. Itchen SAC investigation. PW: R. Itchen model Fish Screen not included in price limits 2004 
			 Didlington Park Lakes Norfolk Anglian Water Investigation and abstraction reduction (25 per cent. at two boreholes) 2005 
			 Kenninghall and Banham Fens and Quidenham Mere Norfolk Anglian Water Investigation to identify potential impact and abstraction reduction by 25 per cent. at three boreholes 2005 
			 Sheringham and Beeston Regis Common Norfolk Anglian Water Investigations and relocation of PWS boreholes 2005 
			 Yare Broads and Marshes Norfolk Anglian Water Investigation and reduction of licensed abstraction by 75 per cent. at Strumpshaw 2005 
			 Fowlmere Cambridgeshire Cambridge Water Investigation and reduction in licensed abstraction by 50 per cent. 2005 
			 Cattawade Marshes Essex Essex and Suffolk Water Investigation and reduction in licensed abstraction 2005 
			 Aqualate Mere Staffordshire Severn Trent Water Investigate low-flow river and implement solution 2005 
			 Hewell Park Lake Worcestershire Severn Trent Water Implement compensation from Brockhill source during low water levels 2005 
			 Sulham and Tidmarsh Woods and Meadows Berkshire Thames Investigate and implement solution, including possible modification to licence at Pangbourne 2005 
		
	
	The Environment Agency, in liaison with English Nature, are currently reviewing existing abstraction licences and other permissions in accordance with the requirements of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994. The investigation and subsequent remedial action at European designated sites will also contribute to the protection of SSSIs as they make up Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas.
	Investigation of SSSIs, identified through the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme, will be undertaken on the basis of the priority assigned. A number of sites where there is a potential link to water company abstraction have been identified for possible funding through AMP4, although further progression will be subject to further Ministerial Advice and the outcome of the 2004 Periodic Review process.

Water Abstraction

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many water abstraction licences were revoked in each year since 1995; and if she will list (a) the holder of the licence, (b) the location of the licence, (c) the reasons for the action, (d) the total water volume of the original licence and (e) the amount of compensation paid as a result, in each case.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 3 December 2002
	The information requested is not currently held in a central, accessible form within the Environment Agency. A requirement has been identified, through the Agency's Restoring Sustainable Abstraction Programme, to store such information centrally. Work is currently in progress to modify existing database systems to allow this.
	In seeking to address environmental problems resulting from the effects of abstractions the Agency seeks wherever possible to secure negotiated and agreed solutions that avoid the necessity to use its statutory powers of revocation and the need for compensation. To date it has not used its statutory powers.
	The Agency has, however, identified three examples where it has secured environmentally beneficial solutions by making contributory payments. This may not be an exhaustive list.
	River Worfe
	The then NRA, pursuing its programme of resource recovery, negotiated with the holder of a surface water spray irrigation licence having a major impact on river flows during low flow periods. Agreement was reached to replace the unconstrained licence by a new borehole having significantly less impact on the river. The NRA undertook to construct and test pump the borehole at a cost of about £60,000.
	Redgrave and Lopham Fen
	A high profile scheme was agreed to rescue this fen from damage by an abstraction by Essex and Suffolk Water. It involved relocating a public water supply borehole away from the fen. Total cost of the project was £3.2 million of which the Agency contributed £0.78 million. The rest came from Essex and Suffolk Water (£1.02 million) and an EC life grant (£1.4 million).
	River Mun
	To restore flows in a small north Norfolk river, the Agency persuaded a local farming company to replace a summer surface water licence with a groundwater source. Licensing the borehole involved laying a water main to some isolated properties to prevent derogation of the rights of other abstractors. The Agency paid the £30,000 cost of that.

Water Abstraction

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the abstraction management requirements are which the UK must implement in order to comply with the EC Water Framework Directive.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 3 December 2002
	In respect of the management of the abstraction of fresh surface water and groundwater, Article 11(3)(e) of the EC Water Framework Directive requires that:
	there must be controls over abstraction of fresh surface water and groundwater;
	a register of abstractions must be maintained;
	abstractions must have prior authorisation; and
	controls must be periodically reviewed, and where necessary updated.

Water Abstraction

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what work her Department is doing to ensure that the proposed Water Bill will fully implement the requirements of the EC Water Framework Directive on water abstraction management.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 3 December 2002
	The controls on abstraction in Part II of the Water Resources Act 1991 and the clauses in the draft Water Bill will together be largely sufficient to deliver the obligation under Article 11(3)(e) of the Water Framework Directive. However, there are a number of small, but potentially significant, aspects of the abstraction licensing system that will require further consideration. The Department is currently consulting on what additional measures beyond the proposals in the Water Bill may be needed to fully implement the requirements arising under that Article.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Assisted Suicide

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the action taken by his Department concerning British nationals seeking assisted suicide overseas, with special reference to the practice in European jurisdictions.

Mike O'Brien: Government policy is that British nationals seeking assisted suicide overseas, in European jurisdictions or otherwise, are not given advice by this Department which might help achieve that outcome.

EU Membership

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Danish proposals to alter the financial terms for the countries applying for EU membership in 2004.

Denis MacShane: The Danish Presidency has tabled final proposals to EU candidates including increases in some agricultural quotas and in financing. The Government remains determined to conclude the enlargement negotiations at the Copenhagen European Council (12–13 December). The final agreement must be fair and respect the agreement reached at the Berlin European Council in 1999 on financing enlargement.

Referendums Protocol

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions he gives (a) ambassadors and (b) other embassy staff on making statements in (i) written and (ii) broadcast media; what particular instructions he gives about public comment on political matters when referendums are to be held in a country; and how he decides when the rules relating to comment on referendum campaigns should take effect.

Jack Straw: FCO officials who deal with the press are governed by the Civil Service Code and are guided by Cabinet Office advice to government information and communication officers (Guidance on the Work of the Government Information Service), both of which can be found on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk). British diplomats are under instruction not to engage in any activity that might be interpreted as party political.

TRANSPORT

Air Transport

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend the consultation period on the future development of air transport in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: A statement was made by the Secretary of State on Thursday 28 November in which he confirmed that the consultation would be extended.

Air Transport

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many aircraft orders each United Kingdom airline placed, in the last 12 months.

David Jamieson: Fleet planning decisions are a commercial matter for the airlines concerned. The Government does not maintain statistical data on the aircraft orders placed by the 150 air carriers licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Air Transport

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account he has taken of (a) aircraft orders placed and (b) passenger growth in determining the criteria for the future development of air transport in the UK.

David Jamieson: As described in the national aviation consultation documents, forecasts of unconstrained passenger demand out to 2030 are the starting point for assessing demand for airport capacity. However, this is not a 'predict and provide' approach: the forecasts only identify what additional capacity would be needed if demand were to be met, either fully or partially, so that the positive and negative aspects of that additional capacity can be appraised so as to reach a view on what, if any, degree of airport expansion is appropriate. The passenger forecasts are long term forecasts, anddepend on key factors influencing demand such as GDP and fares; they do not use aircraft orders to assess supply over shorter periods ahead since the availability of aircraft is not assumed to be a constraint.

Airports (Slot Allocation)

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the ownership of take-off and landing slots at (i) Gatwick and (ii) Heathrow airport.

David Jamieson: The ownership of slots will be considered as part of the consultants' study now being carried out for the commission on the possible use of market-based solutions for the allocation of slots at congested airports.

Airports (Slot Allocation)

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what plans he has to submit proposals to the European Commission on the revision of Article 14 of Council Regulations (EEC) 95/93 on slot allocations at community airports; what timetable has been established for such proposals to be submitted; and what nature of consultation he envisages;
	(2)  what his Department's policy is on the (a) sale and (b) swapping of take-off and landing slots at (i) Gatwick and (ii) Heathrow by airlines.

David Jamieson: We believe that the auctioning of new slots, and the trading of existing slots, would help maximise the efficiency of use of slots at congested airports. My officials will be consulting interested parties, including the Scottish Executive, about proposals for amendments to the Commission's proposals for amending Regulation 95/93, and for amending Regulation 2408/92 on Public Services
	Obligations. The aim is to submit proposals to the Commission in early 2003.

Carriageway Closure (M1)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the northbound carriageway of the M1 motorway near junction 34 has been closed; what steps have been taken to reduce traffic congestion and delays; and when all three lanes on both north and southbound carriageways in this area will be fully operational.

John Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the right hon. Member.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Greg Knight, dated 4 December 2002
	I have been asked by the Minister for Transport, John Spellar, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the closure of the northbound carriageway of the M1 motorway at junction 34.
	The Highways Agency is currently carrying out major strengthening of the Tinsley Viaduct which carries the M1 Motorway across the Don Valley. The works cannot be completed without some limited carriageway closures. These take place overnight when traffic levels are low. The northbound carriageway was closed for each night between Monday 18 and Saturday 23 November. Alternative routes had been agreed with local authorities and were signed and publicised in advance.
	The contractor has been carrying out welding work overnight and this has necessitated closures. Following work on the night of Saturday 23 November, cracking developed in the structure which, if untreated, would have deteriorated. Work could only be carried out with a complete closure of the road. No work could be undertaken on Sunday night because fog made it impossible to install traffic management safely. On Monday the position, which had been kept under review, began to deteriorate further. Taking into account the fact that delay would prolong the closure the decision was taken to close the carriageway that afternoon. This was done and the carriageway remained closed from 4 pm on Monday to 6.45 am on Wednesday. It closed again briefly later that night to allow clearance of the remaining traffic management.
	In taking the decision the Agency took into account the severe congestion that the closure could cause in the area. Local authorities and the Police were informed of the closure as soon as the decision was taken. They assisted with traffic management using the Urban Traffic Control systems to adjust timings on traffic signals in the area. Local and long distance diversion routes were put in place and the closure was publicised through press, radio and the Agency's own website and information line. The information was updated throughout the time the carriageway was closed. Further works on the northbound carriageway will involve a series of closures starting mid February as part of the strengthening works.
	The Viaduct is expected to re-open fully to three running lanes plus hardshoulder in each direction following completion of the strengthening contract in early 2005.
	If you would like any further information on the works being carried out to the viaduct please contact Simon Diggle, the Project Manager for the works, on 0113 283 5309 or e mail simon.diggle@highways.gsi.gov.uk

International Hub Airports

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) discussions his Department has had or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regard to the (i) economic, (ii) social and (iii) environmental costs and benefits which (A) have been obtained and (B) could potentially be obtained from changes in the number of international passengers passing through international hub airports in the United Kingdom; and if he will place copies of related documentation in the Library.

David Jamieson: holding answer 20 November 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 20 November 2002, Official Report, column 181W.

Journeys (Environmental Impact)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the environmental impact of a journey between London and Manchester by (a) rail, (b) air and (c) car.

David Jamieson: The estimates for carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions are as follows:
	(a) rail (average per passenger): 10.5 kg
	(b) air (average per passenger): 32 kg
	(c) car (average petrol):
	per car: 58 kg
	average per passenger: 37 kg
	(d) car (average diesel):
	per car: 35 kg
	per passenger: 22 kg.
	These CO2 emissions estimates have been produced using factors developed for the guidelines for company reporting on greenhouse gas emissions published by DETR in 2001 and are based on a journey distance of 177 miles. In the case of air travel and rail travel, they make no allowance for travel to the airport or railway station. Emissions per passenger for travel by car will depend on the size of the vehicle, and the number of passengers. Estimates are based on an average car and average car occupancy over all journeys of 1.59 passengers per car derived from National Travel Survey in the period 1999–2001.
	Estimates for air quality pollutants are available from the Commission for Integrated Transport in: XA Comparative Study of the Environmental Effects of Rail and Short-haul Air Travel", September 2001.
	
		Emissions from regional journeys by private car, high-speed rail and domestic aircraft -- Grammes per passenger journey
		
			  Car journey (single person) High-speed rail (current) Domestic air 
		
		
			 NOX 330 31 99 
			 PM10 8 2 3 
			 CO 2,162 6 130 
			 NMVOC 297 1 13 
			 SO2 7 71 9

Local Transport Improvements

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to increase the local authority resources and to provide the expertise required to identify and implement the major local transport improvements envisaged in the Ten Year Transport Plan.

David Jamieson: The primary responsibility for equipping themselves to deal satisfactorily with their responsibilities for transport rests with local authorities themselves. We recognise that there is currently a shortage of personnel qualified in a number of disciplines relevant to local transport. My Department is therefore helping to fund the Transport Planning Skills Initiative, which is examining how more people can be attracted into the transport profession together with questions of staff training and retention. We are also funding the provision of 111 travel plan co-ordinators at 84 local authorities at a cost of £9 million over three years, to promote the widespread adoption of travel plans in order to help tackle congestion. It is important, too, that the most effective use is made of the available expertise. Our Centres of Excellence initiative is designed to disseminate best practice in the preparation and implementation of Local Transport Plans (LTPs). We are funding the authorities responsible for 17 of these plans to undertake a programme of dissemination covering a range of local transport issues.

Modern Facilities at Stations Programme

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding under the modern facilities at stations programme has been spent, ranked by local authority area of England and Wales.

David Jamieson: None. The Rail Regulator will first determine a fair and efficient price to be charged by Network Rail for the modern facilities at stations programme to implement the programme. The Regulator's determination is expected before the end of the year.

Public Service Obligation

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many public service obligations have been imposed on peripheral or development regions since the passing of Article 14 of Council Regulation (EEC) 95/93, broken down by (a) subsidy and (b) non-subsidy.

David Jamieson: The UK has imposed Public Service Obligations on 16 routes to peripheral or development regions. All routes are within Scotland. Services currently operate on 15 of these routes and all receive subsidy.

Speed Cameras

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic speed cameras there were in Lancashire in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: The number of speed enforcement cameras operational in the Lancashire police force area was 97 in 1996–97 and 147 in 2001–02, the latest year for which figures are available.

Transport Subsidies

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much subsidy was paid to operators in the (a) aviation and (b) rail industries from public funds in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: The UK aviation industry normally operates free of Government subsidy. Assistance totalling some £39.7 million was paid to eleven UK airlines during winter 2001–02. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 the UK introduced a scheme of up to £40 million in financial assistance to UK airlines affected by closure of US and other airspace
	The Scottish Executive pays a grant to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. (RIAL) which ensures the continuation of operations at the company's 10 airports. The Executive also pays a subsidy for lifeline air services on which Public Service Obligations have been imposed under EC Regulations.
	Payments are as follows:
	
		
			 Year HIAL payments (£ million) Lifeline air services payments (£) 
		
		
			 2001–02 19.45 986,200 
			 2000–01 15.142 1,003,402 
			 1999–2000 12.291 526,579 
			 1998–99 6.179 533,871 
			 1997–98 7 346,465 
		
	
	Subsidies to operators in the rail industry comprise Support for Passenger Rail Services, paid by the Strategic Rail authority to train operating companies (TOCs), and grants paid by passenger Transport Executives to Train Operating Companies which provide services in their areas. Payments are as follows:
	
		
			 Year Subsidy (£ million) 
		
		
			 2001–02 1,721 
			 2000–01 1,130 
			 1999–2000 1,343  
			 1998–99 1,533 
			 1997–98 1,804

Traffic Managers

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to bring forward legislation to introduce traffic managers; how many traffic managers he intends to appoint and what the relationship will be in London between the traffic manager, Transport for London, the Mayor of London, and boroughs of London and utility companies.

David Jamieson: We have made it clear that better management of our roads is essential and that the present legislation can be improved. It is vital that someone is responsible for minimising the disruption caused by roadworks. The priority is London and we have already held urgent discussions with the key players about the best way forward.

Uckfield Line Electrification

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what terms of reference were given to Booz Allen when commissioned to report on the electrification of the Uckfield line through Edenbridge;
	(2)  if he will review his decision under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to place all the information in the Booz Allen Report on the electrification of the Uckfield line through Edenbridge in the Library;
	(3)  what categories of material in the Booz Allen report on the electrification of the Uckfield line through Edenbridge he regards as commercially sensitive.

John Spellar: The terms of reference given to Booz Allen were to make an assessment of the costs and benefits of electrifying the route.
	The report includes information drawn from the Best and Final Offers (BAFOs) for the South Central replacement franchise. These offers were submitted to the SRA in confidence, as part of a competitive bidding process.
	The Code of Practice on Access to Government Information provides for exemption from publication of information which could affect Xcommercial and contractual activities". As the Booz Allen report includes such information and as I have already placed in the Library a summary of the Booz Allen report, I do not propose to place the report in the Library.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Responsibilities

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the responsibilities of (a) the Department of Work and Pensions, (b) HM Treasury and (c) the DTI for (i) minimum wage policy and (ii) social security policy; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The National Minimum Wage ensures fair minimum standards of pay and underpins the Government's tax and benefit reforms. HM Treasury has overall responsibility for tax reform and for ensuring with the DTI, which has the policy lead, that the national minimum wage makes a full contribution to the Government's objectives to relieve child poverty and increase work incentives. The DTI sets the remit for the independent Low Pay Commission and provides, jointly with HM Treasury, analysis which informs its deliberations. DTI and HMT together advise Ministers on the response to the Commission's recommendations on minimum wage rates and other issues. The Inland Revenue has operational responsibility for enforcement activities.
	The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for implementing the Government's Welfare to Work strategy. The Department delivers a range of benefits and services for people of working age, those with disabilities, pensioners and children. Jobcentre Plus brings together the Employment Service and those parts of the Benefits Agency dealing with working age people to deliver a fully integrated work and benefit service for claimants. The Pension Service will deliver services to older people.

WALES

Antisocial Behaviour

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Home Office on introducing fixed penalty notices for antisocial behaviour in parts of Wales.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with colleagues about matters affecting Wales.
	The Government are committed to tackling antisocial behaviour, which can cause considerable distress and upset to those who live in the localities where it occurs.
	Fixed penalty notices for certain types of antisocial behaviour are currently being piloted in a part of North Wales.
	The intention is to roll the scheme out nationally.

Antisocial Behaviour

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the use of antisocial behaviour order in Wales.

Peter Hain: The targeted use of antisocial behaviour orders—and less formal sanctions such as acceptable behaviour contracts, curfew and parenting orders and 'On the Spot' fines has been effective in tackling offenders.
	We are committed to legislation in this session to reduce further the scourge of anti-social behaviour.

Socially Deprived Communities

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary about measures to improve the health of individuals in socially deprived communities in Wales.

Don Touhig: I have regular meetings with my ministerial colleagues at the National Assembly for Wales and health care is an issue that regularly arises in our discussions.

Red Dragon Project

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Ministers on the Red Dragon Project in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Peter Hain: I very much welcome the agreement on the Red Dragon Project in St Athan between the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, DARA and WDA, in August, for a state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance facility and a high tech aerospace park which will safeguard around 4,000 jobs.

Assembly Finance

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to discuss the implications of the pre-Budget review for the financing of the Assembly with the First Secretary.

Peter Hain: I have already discussed this with the First Minister.

Crime Statistics

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on levels of crime in Wales.

Don Touhig: Recorded crime in Wales has fallen by 16 per cent. since 1997.

Aerospace Industry

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Department for Trade and Industry and (b) the Treasury on repayable launch aid for the development of the aerospace industry in Wales.

Peter Hain: The Government have been, and continue to be, supportive of the aerospace industry in the UK. Since 1997, we have committed nearly £1 billion in Launch Investment (previously known as Launch Aid) for major new large aircraft and engine projects.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, announced on 16 May this year the establishment of the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team (IGT), led by Sir Richard Evans. The IGT, as part of its remit, is considering medium to long-term strategic issues affecting the aerospace sector, including the future of Government support mechanisms. Sir Richard and his team are currently about halfway through their work, and I expect the IGT to report by next spring with recommendations and an agreed action plan to take the industry forward.

Eye Tests

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales about the degree to which exemption from charges for eye tests can be extended.

Don Touhig: The National Assembly for Wales is able to determine fees for NHS sight tests and the groups that qualify for free sight tests, in the same way as the Department of Health can in England.
	Sight tests should not be confused with eye health examinations. The Wales Eye Care Initiative provides for free eye health examinations for certain groups of people identified as being at higher risk of developing eye disease than the rest of the population.

Industrial Relations

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding industrial relations in north-west Wales.

Peter Hain: I regularly meet Cabinet colleagues and discuss a range of issues including industrial relations.
	The Government have noted the decision of the Employment Tribunal in respect of Friction Dynamics, and will study the full judgment once it is available.
	The law on dismissal of striking workers is under review as part of the Employment Relations Act 1999. The Government are currently talking to unions, employers and others to gather evidence, and will produce a consultation document in early 2003.

GP Services

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales about the provision of GP services in Wales.

Don Touhig: I have regular meetings with the Assembly's First Minister, and the provision of health care in all parts of Wales is a matter that we regularly discuss. The National Assembly has put in place a number of actions to attract GPs to Valley's communities—for example, the discretionary recruitment and retention initiatives, and improvements to premises.

Objective 5

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress being made under Objective 5 of his 2002–03 objectives.

Peter Hain: A revised version of the Statement of Funding Policy, XFunding the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly" was published in July this year at the time of Spending Review 2002. It is available from HM Treasury and can also be found at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/fundingguidance.

Top-up Fees

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales regarding top-up fees for Welsh universities.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend meets regularly with the First Minister to discuss a range of issues, including higher education.

Bovine TB

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the spread of bovine TB in Wales and in English/Welsh border areas.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with the First Secretary about a variety of agricultural matters.
	I welcome the recent announcement of relaxation on movements from mid January, which will come as some relief to the industry.
	However, this UK wide relaxation will be based on rigorous risk assessment as part of the on-going drive towards control and eradication of this disease.

Police Community Support

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Home Office on the use of police community support officers in Wales.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with colleagues about matters affecting Wales.
	Community Support Officers are a key part of our Police Reform programme. They are an additional resource aimed at further reducing crime and the fear of crime. They will be police authority employees who will help provide a highly visible policing presence on the streets and help tackle nuisance crime.
	27 forces in England and Wales have successfully bid for funding. Gwent is one of these forces and will receive £900,000, which will pay for 30 officers in 2003–04.

Manufacturing

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement regarding the state of manufacturing in Wales.

Peter Hain: While manufacturing output in Wales fell in the last four quarters by 7.3 per cent. compared with the same figures a year ago, output for the last quarter rose by 2.6 per cent.
	The general UK slowdown in manufacturing, which began in 2001, was clearly influenced by the synchronised global slowdown, collapse in demand for ICT-related goods and heightened uncertainty in the aftermath of 11 September.
	The slowdown remains a global phenomenon, but Wales and the UK stand ready to benefit from any sustained recovery due to the Government's pro-active enterprise agenda.

Learning, Leisure and Sport

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the Welsh Assembly on improvements in learning, leisure and sporting opportunities.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend meets regularly with the First Minister and I hold regular meetings with the National Assembly Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning to discuss a range of areas, including the significant improvements which continue to be made in opportunities for education, training, leisure and sport in Wales.

Transport

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly regarding co-ordination in transport in Wales.

Peter Hain: I meet with the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government regularly to discuss a range of issues, including the co-ordination of transport in Wales. Recently my hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for Wales met with the Assembly's Minister for the Environment to discuss, among other things, integrated transport in Wales.
	We are working closely with the Assembly Government to identify the best means of developing integrated transport networks.

Farming

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales regarding the farming industry in Wales.

Peter Hain: I have regular meetings with the First Secretary at which a variety of issues are discussed, including the Welsh farming.
	I look forward to meeting representatives of the farming industry and doing all I can on behalf of the industry in Wales.

Courts

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Lord Chancellor's Department about the closure of magistrates' courts, Crown courts and their administrative offices in Wales.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with colleagues about matters affecting Wales.
	Decisions on the future of individual magistrates' courts are a matter for the Magistrates' Courts Committees (MCC). Each MCC is responsible for providing an efficient and effective service to court users in its area, including the provision of adequate accommodation, in consultation with the local paying authority or authorities.
	There are no plans to close any Crown Court Centres in Wales.

Heroin

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent estimate he has made of the scale of heroin misuse in coalfield areas in Wales.

Don Touhig: Due to the illegal nature of drug taking it is extremely difficult to estimate the number of users. We have to rely on the number of people in treatment and the number of people arrested testing positive in order to get an estimate of the scale of heroin misuse.

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001–02.

Peter Hain: holding answer 3 December 2002
	Expenditure on travel by my Department in 2001–02 was some £260,000.
	My Department has no agencies.

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002–03.

Peter Hain: holding answer 3 December 2002
	Travel costs are met from within the general running costs budget. There is no discrete budget solely for travel.
	My Department has no agencies.

Police Funding

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues and the First Secretary of the National Assembly about police funding in Wales.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues, and with Assembly Members about matters affecting Wales.
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and Minister for Crime Reduction, Policing, Community Safety and Young People will tomorrow be announcing details of the provisional funding settlement for police authorities for 2003–04.

Public Appointments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his ethnic minority strategy for public appointments.

Don Touhig: Although the Wales Office does not make public appointments, where recommendations are given, we seek to ensure that there is equality of opportunity for all people.

DEFENCE

Army Exercises

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army exercises have been cancelled since January 2001.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 2 December 2002
	For details on those exercises cancelled between January and November 2001, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 374W to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) The following table covers those Army exercises which have been cancelled since November 2001. It includes details on the defence exercise programme, but not unit-organised exercises, details of which are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 Exercise name Dates Country Reason for cancellation 
		
		
			 Flying Rhino 02 Not finalised Germany Operational commitments 
			 Gobi Dust 02 Not finalised USA US could not provide troops 
			 Winged Star 02 Not finalised USA Firefighters strike 
			 Bass Rock 02 Not finalised Canada Canada could not provide troops 
			 Readiness Challenge 02 1–27 April 2002 USA US cancelled exercise 
			 Artful Issue 02 October 2002 Germany UK withdrawal from multi-national division centre 
			 Snowshoe 1 and 2 January-March 2002 Canada No longer required 
			 Arrcade Globe 02 July 2002 Germany Cancelled by HQ ARRC 
			 Glacial Engima January 2002 Norway Operational commitments 
			 Ardent Ground 02 May 2002 Germany UK withdrawal from AMF(L) 
			 PFP 1/02 Not finalised Central Asia Cancelled by CENTCOM 
			 Ponte Vecchio Not finalised Italy Cancelled by Jt. NBC Regt. 
			 Iron Ram 02 1–30 November 2002 Italy Firefighters strike 
			 Gaulish 4/02 November 2002 France Firefighters strike 
			 Asterix 4/02 October 2002 France Firefighters strike 
			 Kelp Fire January-March 2002 Falkland Islands Operational commitments 
			 Rock Work Not finalised Gibraltar Unit cancellation 
			 Britannia Way/Iberian Focus September 2002 Spain Firefighters strike 
			 Lark Song/Foxtrot Not finalised Denmark Cancelled by Denmark 
			 Island Spell June 2002 Falkland Islands Cancelled by unit 
			 Power Drive November 2002 Gibraltar Cancelled by host command 
			 Courageous Bat September 2002 Denmark Cancelled by unit 
			 Cygnet Goose September 2002 Falkland Islands Cancelled by unit 
			 Grand Prix 3/02 25 October-6 December 2002 Kenya Firefighters strike 
			 Panther Cub 6/02 17 September-30 October 2002 Belize Ex returned to UK 4 days after deployment due to firefighters strike 
			 Panther Cub 7/02 30 October-12 December 2002 Belize Firefighters strike 
			 Iron Foray 5–11 November 2002 UK Firefighters strike 
			 UK Milan Concentration 10–21 November 2002 UK Firefighters strike 
			 Druids Dance 18 November-8 December 2002 UK Firefighters strike 
			 Reynard Chase 25 November-8 December 2002 UK Resource constraints 
			 Ulan Eagle 26 August-21 September 2002 UK Downsized due to resource constraints

Audits

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) external and (b) internal bodies that audit the Ministry of Defence.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The Comptroller and Auditor General is the external auditor of most of the Ministry of Defence's activity, covering the MOD's 11 top level budgets and six of the MOD's seven executive non-departmental public bodies. KPMG are currently the external auditor for the seventh, the Oil and Pipeline Agency.
	The main source of internal audit is provided by the MOD's Defence Internal Audit Service, which covers the 11 top level budgets and two trading funds (ABRO and DARA). Of the remaining three trading funds, PKF are internal auditors for the Met Office, Deloitte and Touche are internal auditors to DSTL and Bentley Jennison for the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. Of the non-departmental public bodies, Walton & Co are auditors to the Royal Marines Museum, the Royal Naval Museum and the Royal Navy Submarines Museum. KPMG are internal auditors to the Oil and Pipeline Agency. Baker Tilly are internal auditors to the Fleet Air Museum, while Daly, Hoggett & Co are internal auditors to the National Army Museum.

European Headline Goal

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress by the UK in achieving the European Headline Goal; and what discussions he has had with his European counterparts with regard to achieving the Goal.

Geoff Hoon: While achieving the Headline Goal is a matter for all member states, the United Kingdom's contribution is substantial. Up to 12,500 troops, 18 warships and 72 combat aircraft could be made available for EU-led operations, covering a range of capabilities. The UK plays a leading role in the European Capabilities Action Plan (ECAP), in which panels of national experts are producing options for solutions to capability gaps. The UK is a member of all but one of the 18 panels formed so far and chairs four of them.
	Progress was reviewed at the Informal Meeting of EU Defence Ministers on 4 October and the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on 18 November. Capabilities issues are also often discussed bilaterally with other member states.

Fire Dispute

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of United States Air Force personnel based at RAF bases to fight fires during the firefighters' strike.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 3 December 2002
	United States Air Force personnel based at RAF bases are not being used to provide fire cover for the civilian community, during the firefighters' strike.
	The emergency nationwide firefighting cover which has been provided by our service men and women during the strikes is proving effective, and personnel who have been called upon to assist are coping very well with all that has been asked of them.

Gulf Operations

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been of preparation to move (a) service personnel and medical auxiliaries and (b) military equipment to locations in the Gulf regions in the last 12 months.

Adam Ingram: The cost of preparing equipment and personnel for routine movement to and from the Gulf is not recorded separately and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 29 October 2002, Official Report, column 709W setting out the overall additional expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Defence as a direct result of operations in the Gulf from 1992–93 onwards.

Harrier

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the financial consequences for his Department of withdrawing the RN Sea Harrier from service.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth) on 5 November, Official Report, column 171W and to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin). on 16 April, Official Report, columns 821–2W and 29 April, Official Report, column 529W.

Home Defence

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regular armed forces are committed to home defence; if numbers are to be increased; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The armed forces have a long-standing mission to help ensure the protection and security of the United Kingdom, providing military aid to the civil authorities as required.
	The Home Office has responsibility for counter terrorism policy and the lead on domestic security lies with the civil agencies, particularly the police. There are no service personnel purely dedicated to home defence although United Kingdom based force elements can be deployed at short notice to provide assistance to the civil authorities. In addition, the RAF is responsible for the defence of our airspace and the Royal Navy has a role in ensuring the integrity of our territorial waters.
	The Strategic Defence Review New Chapter considered enhancements to those force elements that could contribute to the capability of the armed forces to meet requests from the civil authorities for home defence and security purposes. It concluded that 14 new civil contingency reaction forces should be established from existing volunteer reserve personnel, and some 700 new volunteer reserve posts established to provide improved command, control and planning capabilities. Action on this is in hand.

Prague Summit

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Prague Summit, with particular reference to increasing European defence capability, interoperability and enlargement.

Geoff Hoon: The NATO Summit in Prague on 21–22 November opened a new chapter in the Alliance's history aimed at ensuring that NATO has the tools to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Alliance leaders agreed a comprehensive package of measures: a streamlined Command Structure; a new NATO Response Force; reinvigorated Alliance Partnership programmes, including building on the success of the NATO-Russia Council; and modernisation of NATO's internal structures and processes.
	The Summit also launched a new capabilities initiative, the 'Prague Capabilities Commitment' (PCC), which will focus on improvements in Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence, Information Superiority, Combat Effectiveness, and Deployability and Sustainability. Interoperability and multinational solutions to capability shortfalls are key themes of the initiative. The PCC will be complementary to the European Union's Headline Goal.
	Invitations to join the Alliance were issued to seven countries. Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia will now begin accession talks, with formal accession expected in 2004. The invitees will continue to prepare for membership through NATO's Membership Action Plan.

Royal Navy Personnel

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many trained (a) officers and (b) other ranks have left the Royal Navy in each of the past five years; what estimate he has made of likely future trends; and what steps he is taking to reduce the numbers of trained personnel leaving the Royal Navy.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested is set out in the table, including Royal Marines:
	
		
			 Exits during financial year Trained officers(1) Trained ratings/other ranks(1) 
		
		
			 1997–98 500 3,560 
			 1998–99 450 3,600 
			 1999–2000 500 3,610 
			 2000–01 400 3,100 
			 2001–02 440 3,540 
		
	
	(1) Source—Defence Analytical Services Agency. Figures have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 10, consistent with the presentation in DASA's Quarterly Press Release.
	The latest published figures, for 1 October 2002, show that during the 12 months to 30 September 2002 the rate of outflow has slowed to 400 officers and 3,230 ratings/other ranks, and this favourable trend is expected to continue.
	The rate of outflow is reducing, but retention is still recognised as a major challenge. A range of measures are in hand to address the issue holistically throughout the service.

Sea Dart

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on upgrading of the Type 42s Sea Dart missile; and what the effect of the upgrade will be.

Lewis Moonie: The Sea Dart missile system has undergone a number of modifications and updates to improve its reliability and capability. The final element of the programme incorporates an infra red fuse in the missile. This fuse, which has now come into service, will improve the Royal Navy's medium and long range defence against aircraft and missile threats.

Sea Trials

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when (a) HMS Albion and (b) HMS Bulwark will commence sea trials.

Lewis Moonie: Sea trials for HMS Albion are expected to begin later this month. HMS Bulwark is expected to start sea trials in 2004.

Ship Deployments

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which ships were on deployment on (a) 1 November 2000, (b) 1 May 2001, (c) 1 November 2001, (d) 1 May 2002 and (e) 1 November 2002.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is as follows:
	1 November 2000
	HMS Invincible
	HMS Fearless
	HMS Ocean
	HMS York
	HMS Liverpool
	HMS Cardiff
	HMS Newcastle
	HMS Northumberland
	HMS Argyll
	HMS Sutherland
	HMS Marlborough
	HMS Iron Duke
	HMS Cornwall
	HMS Cumberland
	HMS Endurance
	HMS Somerset
	HMS Scott
	HMS Grimsby
	HMS Middleton
	HMS Pembroke
	HMS Sandown
	HMS Penzance
	HMS Dumbarton Castle
	RFA Black Rover
	RFA Grey Rover
	RFA Bayleaf
	RFA Brambleleaf
	RFA Orangeleaf
	RFA Fort Austin
	RFA Fort Rosalie
	RFA Fort Victoria
	RFA Fort George
	RFA Sir Bedivere
	RFA Sir Galahad
	RFA Sir Geraint
	RFA Sir Percivale
	RFA Sir Tristram
	RFA Sea Centurion
	1 May 2001
	HMS Glasgow
	HMS Gloucester
	HMS Westminster
	HMS Somerset
	HMS Lancaster
	HMS Richmond
	HMS Sheffield
	HMS Endurance
	HMS Sutherland
	HMS Bangor
	HMS Grimsby
	HMS Atherstone
	HMS Leeds Castle
	RFA Black Rover
	RFA Gold Rover
	RFA Oakleaf
	RFA Orangeleaf
	RFA Diligence
	RFA Sir Tristram
	RFA Sea Crusader
	RFA Sea Centurion
	1 November 2001
	HMS Superb
	HMS Trafalgar
	HMS Triumph
	HMS Illustrious
	HMS Fearless
	HMS Ocean
	HMS Edinburgh
	HMS Nottingham
	HMS Southampton
	HMS Northumberland
	HMS Montrose
	HMS Monmouth
	HMS Marlborough
	HMS Kent
	HMS Cornwall
	HMS Chatham
	HMS Roebuck
	HMS Endurance
	HMS Bangor
	HMS Bridport
	HMS Quorn
	HMS Cattistock
	HMS Walney
	HMS Inverness
	HMS Leeds Castle
	RFA Black Rover
	RFA Gold Rover
	RFA Bayleaf
	RFA Brambleleaf
	RFA Oakleaf
	RFA Fort Austin
	RFA Fort Rosalie
	RFA Fort Victoria
	RFA Diligence
	RFA Sir Bedivere
	RFA Sir Galahad
	RFA Sir Geraint
	RFA Sir Percivale
	RFA Sir Tristram
	RFA Sea Crusader
	RFA Sea Centurion
	1 May 2002
	HMS Splendid
	HMS Ocean
	HMS Nottingham
	HMS York
	HMS Newcastle
	HMS Portland
	HMS Richmond
	HMS Campbeltown
	HMS Sheffield
	HMS Endurance
	HMS Grimsby
	HMS Pembroke
	HMS Ramsey
	HMS Leeds Castle
	RFA Grey Rover
	RFA Bayleaf
	RFA Oakleaf
	RFA Fort Austin
	RFA Fort George
	RFA Diligence
	RFA Sir Geraint
	RFA Sir Percivale
	RFA Sir Tristram
	1 November 2002
	HMS Turbulent
	HMS Tireless
	HMS Ark Royal
	HMS Edinburgh
	HMS Cardiff
	HMS Southampton
	HMS Argyll
	HMS Somerset
	HMS Westminster
	HMS Grafton
	HMS Cumberland
	HMS Scott
	HMS Endurance
	HMS Leeds Castle
	HMS Bangor
	HMS Sandown
	HMS Brocklesby
	HMS Blyth
	HMS Walney
	HMS Pembroke
	HMS Dumbarton Castle
	RFA Grey Rover
	RFA Bayleaf
	RFA Oakleaf
	RFA Orangeleaf
	RFA Fort Austin
	RFA Fort Victoria
	RFA Diligence
	RFA Sir Bedivere
	RFA Sir Galahad
	RFA Sea Crusader
	In addition, the Royal Navy has continuously maintained an SSBN on strategic deterrent patrol.

Surplus Land

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the value of land held by his Department which is surplus to requirements.

Lewis Moonie: The value of property sold is eventually determined by the market at the time of sale, and is clearly subject to many uncertainties. However, the Ministry of Defence is conducting a review of its estate to determine which are its long term core sites that are to be the focus of future investment. Those sites that are non core will come forward for disposal in the medium to long term. In the meantime, the Department agreed to generate income of £500 million from the disposal of surplus land and property over the next three years.

Swingfire Missiles

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how old are the Swingfire missiles that have been lost in the Bristol Channel.

Lewis Moonie: The Swingfire warheads which were lost at the St. Thomas's Head Range last March had been removed from the missiles in preparation for disposal. The warheads are 20 to 21-years-old.

Type 45 Destroyer

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on procurement of the Type 45 Destroyer.

Lewis Moonie: The Type 45 Destroyer project remains on track to meet its planned in-service date. There are six ships on contract and it is currently planned that production will begin in spring 2003 with an in-service date for the first of class of late 2007.

Urban Battlefield Trainer

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Urban Battlefield Trainer, with particular reference to its use in training soldiers for fighting in built-up areas.

Lewis Moonie: The Urban Battlefield Trainer (URBAT) is a computer system facilitating procedural training in an urban environment up to company level. It is designed to test and practice procedures through the generation of a battle picture, rather than having to deploy men and equipment physically. In particular, it tests headquarters in the timely issue and dissemination of orders, monitoring the effective flow of information and reaction to the unexpected. The current URBAT is located at Copehill Down training village on Salisbury Plain training area and is the only computer training system able to provide the required level of terrain definition to allow urban operations to be exercised effectively. A new system, known as URBAT 2, is currently being procured and should be in service by the end of July 2003. It will significantly enhance the training benefit by making use of different urban terrain mapping and increasing operator participation.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Entertainment Licences

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had about (a) liquor and (b) public entertainment licensing of village halls.

Kim Howells: In addition to the White Paper public consultation on the proposals now contained in the Licensing Bill, Ministers have had numerous discussions and entered into a great amount of correspondence with a variety of different organisations and individuals. As the new regime proposed in the licensing Bill will cover all premises where licensable activities take place, discussions have focused on how the system will work for all types of premises, and of course the impact on village halls has been considered.

Entertainment Licences

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list (a) the organisations she contacted offering consultation and (b) those who responded, in respect of entertainment licence proposals in the Licensing Bill.

Kim Howells: We sent the White Paper, that was published in April 2000, to 231 organisations in order to gain their responses in respect of our proposals. I am arranging for a list of these organisations to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Any organisation or individual was, of course, free to respond to the White Paper, which was published and made freely available on Government websites.
	We received 1,215 responses to the consultation of which 656 were from organisations. Copies of these responses were placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Funding

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list new (a) companies, (b) work and (c) venues funded by her Department since 1998; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We have contacted the Arts Council of England to request the information required, and my my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available, placing copies of her letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

Sports and Social Clubs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received concerning the level of closures of social and sports clubs; what measures the Government are taking to support social and sports clubs; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Government are committed to supporting amateur sports clubs, which play important roles as local social centres. Over the last two years, my Department has worked closely with HM Treasury, Sport England, the Central Council of Physical Recreation and sport's governing bodies on the provision of financial support for such clubs. In the course of that work, my Department has received a large number of formal and informal representations on club numbers from the Council, governing bodies and other interested parties.
	Following detailed work with the Charity Commission, amateur sports clubs have had the opportunity to apply for registered charitable status under new guidance announced in April. Clubs who successfully apply will benefit from mandatory 80 per cent. business rate relief, tax exemption for trading income, and Payroll Giving, and tax reliefs for gifts by individuals and companies.
	Clubs who do not wish to apply for charitable status can apply for a package of tax reliefs available direct from the Inland Revenue. For the majority of amateur sports clubs these two packages offer an excellent way forward, potentially saving them millions of pounds a year in tax.

Sports and Social Clubs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many sports and social clubs (a) in England and (b) in York and North Yorkshire there were on 1 May (i) 1997 and (ii) 2000; and how many are there now.

Richard Caborn: The most accurate estimate of the numbers of amateur sports clubs in the UK was obtained by my Department earlier this year following a wide consultation of governing bodies. Based on those discussions, 110,000 departmental guidance leaflets on the benefits of charitable status were sent to individual clubs.
	Earlier work by the Central Council of Physical Recreation was based on random sampling and suggested that sports club numbers had fallen slightly over recent years. Neither the Council nor Sport England holds details of the numbers of sports clubs in England, or in York and North Yorkshire, or of numbers of purely social clubs.

Wembley Stadium

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Government will (a) give, (b) loan and (c) underwrite further funding for the building of Wembley Stadium.

Richard Caborn: The Government's contribution to the English National Stadium project is Limited to a grant of up to 20 million towards non-stadium infrastructure. The London Development Agency is also granting up to £21 million and the Sports Lottery Fund's grant of £120 million has already been paid and spent by Wembley National Stadium Limited. Full details of the National Stadium project's costs and funding are set out in the final report of the English National Stadium Review led by Patrick Carter, copies of which were placed in the House Library on 16 October and which can be downloaded from my Department's websiteat http://www.culture.gov.uk/sport.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Abandoned Vehicles

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many abandoned vehicles were dealt with under the Pollution Control and Local Government (NI) Order 1978 in each year since 1997; and what the average cost is of dealing with abandoned vehicles under this Order.

Angela Smith: There are no data available for the numbers and the costs associated with the collection of abandoned vehicles for the years 1997 to 1999. However, at the start of this year the Environment and Heritage Service of the Department of the Environment commissioned a survey to obtain data and information about End of Life Vehicles (ELVs), including abandoned vehicles, in 2000.
	In 2000, the number of abandoned vehicles disposed of by district councils was 2,899 and the direct costs associated with collection and disposal of these ranged from £0 to £50. The average cost was £40.67. Additional costs, including the costs of storage and officer time, increased the average cost to £53. The total cost to councils for collecting all abandoned vehicles in 2000 was estimated to be £117,902.
	An Executive Summary of the survey will be published in early 2003.

Car Crime

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase penalties for joy riders and car thieves.

Des Browne: The Government are committed to undertaking a comprehensive review of the law relating to road traffic penalties in Northern Ireland. This will include the offence of aggravated vehicle taking.
	Preparatory work is under way on a consultation paper in anticipation of this review. I hope to be in a position to issue this document to a wide range of interested parties early in the coming new year.
	Any decision on the future of these penalties must be made on the basis of the recommendations of the review.

Car Crime

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for a review of penalties available to courts dealing with the perpetrators of car thefts and joy riding in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: The Government are committed to undertaking a comprehensive review of the law relating to road traffic penalties in Northern Ireland. This will include the offence of aggravated vehicle taking.
	Preparatory work is under way on a consultation paper in anticipation of this review. I hope to be in a position to issue this document to a wide range of interested parties early in the coming new year.

Nursing Staff

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken by the Department of Health to ensure that there are enough specialised nursing staff to monitor patients on drugs.

Des Browne: I recently announced an additional £100,000 recurrent funding to improve the staffing infrastructure needed to support services for people who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Electronic Tagging

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to introduce electronic tagging for certain categories of criminals in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: I have no immediate proposals to introduce the electronic tagging of criminals. The Criminal Justice Review recommended that electronic monitoring be kept under review in the light of developing experience elsewhere, including in England and Wales. The issue is currently being considered as part of a review of the Northern Ireland sentencing framework.

Fertiliser Industry

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions will be held with the Irish Government regarding the loss of 200 jobs in the fertiliser industry in North Belfast; and what action will be taken to ensure that all staff statutory requirements are met in respect of pension fund, redundancy payments and the issuing of statutory notices of employment.

Ian Pearson: As well as meeting with Richardsons' management and Unions representing the work force, I have written to the company shareholders, including the Irish Government, expressing my concern over the treatment of the work force. I have met with ICI and a representative of the Irish Government. Further I hope to meet Mary Harney TD Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment shortly.
	The issues relating to pensions are complex. There are four different pension schemes and the shareholders have asked the trustees of each scheme to establish the
	facts and options to mitigate the impact on members. The shareholders are proposing to meet with the four pension fund trustees and while the Government's influence in relation to the operation of private pension schemes may be limited, I will await the outcome of this meeting with interest.
	In relation to statutory payments, former employees at the Belfast plant may make an application to the Department for Employment and Learning for statutory redundancy payments. If the employees believe that IFI, Richardson's parent company, failed to consult about the redundancies in proper time they can bring a complaint to an industrial tribunal.

Inward Investment (Strangford)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to support inward investment in the Strangford area, in particular (a) Newtownards and (b) Killyleagh.

Ian Pearson: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, through its Agency Invest Northern Ireland, is actively seeking to attract high quality knowledge-based investment to Northern Ireland. Invest Northern Ireland is working with district councils, including the Ards and Down councils and other local stakeholders to develop regional propositions that will promote the key benefits of those areas. As part of this process Ards council facilitated a meeting last month to develop a sales proposition for the area and follow-up actions are under way.

Research Base

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to give Northern Ireland an improved research base; and how he plans to achieve this.

Ian Pearson: An improved research base, which is dependent on the combined efforts of Government, academia and the private sector, is critical for the development of a modern, competitive, knowledge based economy in Northern Ireland. I launched a draft Regional Innovation Strategy for public consultation on 21 November 2002. Entitled Xthink, create, innovate" it identifies a series of actions to build on Northern Ireland's strengths and address its weaknesses. It also seeks to ensure that there is a strategic framework for action by all the key stakeholders. The public consultation phase will end in January 2003 and I intend to publish the final version in March 2003.

Scallops

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide compensation to the Northern Ireland scallop industry following the recent imposition of a retrospective ban on the Irish Sea scallop grounds; and when he intends to re-open the fishery.

Paul Murphy: No. It remains Northern Ireland policy not to pay compensation during such outbreaks. The ban in the Irish Sea does not extend to the North Sea or Strangford Lough where scallops may still be caught by fishermen subject to the requirement that they be taken to an approved processing plant for shucking under a movement permit.
	It is not possible at this stage to indicate when the fishery will reopened.

Teachers' Pay

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will extend the consultation period for submissions on the Teachers' Pay and Conditions Inquiry in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: A letter from the Inquiry's Chairman was sent to all schools on 2 December informing them that it has decided, following representations from school governors, to extend the date for the receipt of evidence for its main report to 31 January 2003.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Solicitor-General what the total expenditure of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001–02.

Harriet Harman: The total expenditure of the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers on official travel in 2001–02 was £65,919.
	The total expenditure of the Crown Prosecution Service on official travel in 2001–02 was £4,255,472.
	The total expenditure of the Treasury Solicitor's Department on official travel in 2001–02 was £22,151.
	The total expenditure of HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate on official travel in 2001–02 was £89,096.
	The total expenditure of the Serious Fraud Office on official travel in 2001–02 was £356,000.
	Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas.
	Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 was published on 24 July 2002, Official Report, 1374–75W).

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Employment Delays

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what delays are being experienced by schools between employing (a) teaching, (b) classroom support, (c) voluntary and (d) other staff and their deployment into activities with children, arising from delays in screening by the Criminal Records Bureau.

David Miliband: My Department has not been made aware of any delays in schools deploying staff or volunteers to work with children since we issued advice about interim arrangements in September. Those arrangements allow new staff and volunteers in schools for whom a Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure is required to be deployed to work with children while awaiting the Disclosure at the discretion of the Head teacher. Schools should check my Department's list of people who are barred from working with children in the education service (List 99) and complete other recruitment checks such as taking up references, before staff or volunteers start work.

Adult Learning

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what help will be given to rural areas to help with adult learning.

Stephen Twigg: Support for adult learners in rural areas is a key priority in our national strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy, launched in March 2001. Good progress is being made, and through the Learning and Skills Council, we are expanding the range of provision, and providing better access. For example, extended schools are providing centres for adult learning within rural communities, and in some locations, may also provide access to sports and other facilities. Online centres have also been established in rural areas, and trials are under way to pilot the use of ICT in pubs.
	In 2001–02 a total of 8,064 new child care places were created in Devon, Cornwall, Durham and Lincolnshire, helping more parents to access learning provision. And the modernisation of the Higher Education student support system will consider how to improve access through online application and interactive help facilities for students.
	We shall be reporting fully on all our activities to the Countryside Agency as part of the annual cycle of rural proofing reporting by the Government. We shall also be working closely with DEFRA on their review of skills and learning in rural areas announced on 21 November.

Child Care Review

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made with the implementation of the Inter Departmental Child Care Review.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Following the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July, a single inter-departmental Unit responsible for both Sure Start and Early Years and Child Care programmes has been established, accountable for delivery to the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Work and Pensions. My Noble Friend Baroness Ashton the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for Sure Start, Early Years and Child Care is lead Minister for the work of the new Unit and a member of the Ministerial team of both Departments.
	The new Unit will have a £1.5 billion budget, including more than doubling Child Care spending, by 2006. Its work will include: reforming local and national infrastructure and simplifying funding; establishing a network of Children's Centres, providing integrated Child Care, early education, family and health services for up to 650,000 children in disadvantaged areas by 2006; and creating at least 250,000 new child care places by that date, on top of the existing target of creating new places for 1.6 million children by 2004.
	The report of the child care review, XDelivering for Children and Families", was published on 6 November. A copy is available in the Library.

Drugs Awareness

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have a teacher trained in drugs awareness and education.

David Miliband: The information is not collected centrally.

Education Costs

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Government allocates to educate a child aged 11 to 16 years in the (a) Tamworth and (b) Sutton Coldfield constituencies.

David Miliband: In 2002–03, Staffordshire's average funding per pupil aged 11–15 is £3,440, and for Birmingham it is £4,230. We do not identify separately the amounts for individual constituencies. The reason for the difference is the higher levels of deprivation in Birmingham as a whole. Funding is distributed to schools and children through local education authorities' own funding formulae: these formulae can be a significant cause of the differences in funding between similar schools in neighbouring authorities, since they often do not take enough account of the needs of deprived children. We have issued guidance to LEAs about their use of deprivation funding in order to persuade them to target funding for deprivation at those children and schools that most need it.
	Note:
	Figures in cash terms for pupils aged 11 to 15 (secondary school pupils)—rounded to nearest 10. The figures include the Education SSA plus Grants.

Education Provision (Buckinghamshire)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the pupil/teacher ratios were for (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in (i) Chesham and Amersham and (ii) Buckinghamshire in each year since 1 January 1996.

David Miliband: holding answer 3 December 2002
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools(2): Pupil:teacher ratios(3)
		
			  Pupil:teacher ratio  
			   Chesham and Amersham(4) Buckinghamshire LEA  
			 Position in January each year Primary schools Secondary schools Primary schools Secondary schools 
		
		
			 1996 (5)— (5)— (6)23.6 (6)17.1 
			 1997 24.5 17.0 (6)23.9 (6)17.3 
			 1998 24.7 17.1 24.2 17.6 
			 1999 24.6 18.2 23.9 18.1 
			 2000 23.6 18.3 22.8 18.4 
			 2001 22.9 18.2 22.8 18.3 
			 2002 22.2 18.0 22.1 18.1 
		
	
	(2) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(3) The pupil:teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of full-time equivalent pupils on roll in schools by the total number of full-time equivalent qualified teachers employed in schools.
	(4) Parliamentary constituency.
	(5) Not available.
	(6) Before local government reorganisation.
	Source
	Annual Schools' Census

Examinations

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children excluded from school gained (a) five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C and (b) one or more GCSEs in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002.

David Miliband: Currently the only readily available source of data on the GCSE attainment of young people excluded from school is the Youth Cohort Study (YCS).
	The latest data available from the YCS is for people who took their GCSEs in the summer of 1999. This shows that of those who were excluded from school in years 10 or 11, 17 per cent. gained five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C and 90 per cent. reported gaining at least one GCSE.
	Figures for more recent years will become available from the National Pupil Database in due course.

Graduate Training Programme

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many trainees commenced the graduate training programme and registered training programme in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in (i) September 2001, (ii) January 2002 and (iii) April 2002; and in what subjects.

David Miliband: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The numbers of trainees who commenced the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) and Registered Teacher Programme (RTP) in 2001–02 are presented in the table. Trainees in secondary schools are shown by the subject they trained in.
	
		Table 1: Recruitment to GTP and RTP courses in England, 2001–02
		
			  GTP RTP  
			  September 2001 January 2001 April 2002 Total September 2001 January 2001 April 2002 Total 
		
		
			 Primary 540 309 364 1,213 61 41 16 118 
			  
			 Secondary 
			 Mathematics 68 84 66 218 0 4 2 6 
			 English and Drama 135 147 92 374 2 1 1 4 
			 Science 153 128 94 375 1 2 2 5 
			 Modern Foreign Languages 125 77 59 261 0 1 0 1 
			 Total Technology 139 169 112 420 6 6 5 17 
			 History 25 26 19 70 1 0 0 1 
			 Geography 16 15 6 37 1 0 0 1 
			 Physical Education 29 38 21 88 0 0 1 1 
			 Art 14 33 12 59 0 0 0 0 
			 Music 11 21 12 44 0 0 0 0 
			 Religious Education 3 18 4 25 1 0 0 1 
			 Citizenship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other 32 18 10 60 3 5 2 10 
			 Secondary total 750 774 507 2,031 15 19 13 47 
			 Grand total 1,290 1,083 871 3,244 76 60 29 165 
		
	
	Source:
	Teacher Training Agency

Ministerial Design Champion

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the meetings undertaken by his Department's Ministerial Design Champion in that capacity.

David Miliband: My noble Friend, the Baroness Ashton was the Department's Ministerial Design Champion until this month when, due to changes in Ministerial responsibilities, I succeeded her.
	In her role as Design Champion, Baroness Ashton accepted an invitation to speak at a conference organised by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) on the theme XAchieving Design Quality in PFI Schools". The conference took place on 22 October 2001, at the Millennium Primary School in Greenwich. This year there have been two meetings of the Ministerial Design Champions, but unfortunately she was not able to attend either. Instead, the Department was represented at official level.

Ministerial Design Champion

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when his Department's Ministerial Design Champion last met (a) the Commission of Architecture and the Built Environment, (b) the Royal Institution of British Architects and (c) officials from the DfES's Schools Building Design Unit.

David Miliband: Baroness Ashton last met representatives of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) in October 2001, at the conference organised by CABE and referred to in answer to the previous question. A meeting was arranged between her and the President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in July this year, but this had to be postponed and a new meeting has yet to be arranged.
	Baroness Ashton regularly meets officials from the Department's Schools Building & esign Unit (SBDU) to discuss issues as they arise. The last meeting which focused on design took place in May this year.

Ministerial Visits

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times he has visited East Lancashire in his official capacity; and what the purpose was of each visit.

Charles Clarke: My predecessor and I have not visited East Lancashire in this capacity since the June 2001 General Election. However I did visit Preston on 27 September 2002 to meet a business group at the University of Central Lancashire. I was also a guest of the Directors of Preston North End Football Club to observe the game against Norwich City on 28 September, which I am glad to report that Norwich won.

Pre-School Education

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional resources will be given to local education authorities to extend free early education to all three-year-olds.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Over the three financial years 2001–02 to 2003–04, 986 million has been allocated for the creation of new, free early education places for three year olds and for other early years initiatives.
	From April 2003 all early education funding will be made available to local authorities in the under 5's sub-block, through Education Formula Spending 2003–04. This sub-block will be increased substantially to £2.6 billion which will provide adequate resources for all local education authorities to achieve universal provision for three year olds.
	In addition, £40 million capital funds have been made available over the financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04, for the building of nursery education facilities in disadvantaged areas which will support the achievement of universal provision of three year olds.

Primary Schools

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent consultations he has had with bodies representing pre-school play groups (a) in rural areas and (b) elsewhere, over proposals that all four-year-olds should attend primary schools.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The Secretary of State has no proposals for recommending that all four year olds should attend primary school. Compulsory school age remains the term following the child's fifth birthday.
	Some primary schools do operate an early admission policy. Where this is the case, the School Admissions Code of Practice encourages admission authorities to allow parents who have secured a place for their child to defer entry until later in the same academic year if they wish to do so.
	Admissions policy has recently been reviewed and following consultation, a new, revised Code has been produced. This is currently before Parliament for consideration. The new Code includes a stronger message on deferred entry making it clear to primary school admission authorities that the Secretary of State expects them to offer parents the option of deferring entry.

Public Building Designs

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on how he intends to implement the recommendations in the joint Office of Government Commerce and Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment guidance, Improving standards of design in the procurement of public building.

David Miliband: The DfES does not procure educational buildings. In the schools sector, this is the responsibility of local education authorities, school governors and trustees. For this sector, the relevant recommendations of the CABE/OGC report have already been, or will be, taken into account and reflected in updated DfES project design, procurement, funding and asset management plan appraisal guidance.
	In the further and higher education sectors, the responsibility for influencing design and sustainability issues rests, respectively, with the LSC and the HEFCE.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what checks were made before the appointment of the new Chief Executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Qualification and Curriculum Authority appoint their Chief Executive with the approval of the Secretary of State. The QCA in its recruitment process obtained views from leading education practitioners in Australia who had worked with Ken Boston. The judgment of those consulted was that the new Chief Executive was a highly credible candidate with considerable integrity.

Sure Start

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the effects of Sure Start programmes on children's health.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Sure Start is expected to have a positive impact on children's health in their early years of life and throughout childhood into adulthood.
	Sure Start programmes work to improve children's health by working with existing statutory and voluntary agencies to provide a wide range of health related support and advice to parents and parents to be. This includes: diet and nutrition advice; smoking cessation; preparation for parenthood classes; enhanced maternity and health visiting services; child health and development information; identification of and support to mothers with post-natal depression; breastfeeding support; parenting support and advice; early identification of special needs and support to families with children with special needs along with a wide range of practical, social and specialist support to improve parents' social and emotional health.
	Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation processes are in place to assess the impact of Sure Start on a wide range of child health outcomes. At present it is too early to assess the impact of Sure Start on such outcomes but information on this will become available over the next 12–18 months.
	One of Sure Start's PSA objectives is concerned with improving children's health and progress towards this is reported annually in the DfES Annual Report.

Teacher Training

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many undergraduates started full-time teacher training courses in England in the academic year 2001–02 in each subject.

David Miliband: The number of undergraduates who started full-time teacher training courses in England in the academic year 2001–02 by subject is shown in the table
	
		Table 1. The number of full-time undergraduate teacher trainees who entered in 2001–02
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Primary 6,368 
			 Secondary  
			 Mathematics 149 
			 English 128 
			 Science 150 
			 Modern Foreign Languages 16 
			 Total Technology 386 
			 History 0 
			 Geography 11 
			 Physical Education 564 
			 Art 0 
			 Music 29 
			 Religious Education 7 
			 Citizenship 0 
			 Other 0 
			 Secondary total 1,440 
			 Grand total 7,808 
		
	
	Source:
	TTA ITT Trainee Number Census 2001—02

Teacher Training

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people entered initial teacher training courses for (a) primary and (b) secondary subjects through (i) undergraduate, (ii) postgraduate and (iii) employment-based routes in the academic years (A) 2001–02 and (B) 2002–03.

David Miliband: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The information is shown in the tables.
	
		Recruitment to courses of initial teacher training and employment based initial teacher training programmes in England in 2001–02
		
			  Postgraduate ITT recruitment Undergraduate ITT recruitment Total ITT recruitment GTP recruitment KTP recruitment OTT recruitment Total ITT and EBR recruitment 
		
		
			 Primary 6,749 6,385 13,135 1,213 118 415 14,881 
			 Secondary
			 Mathematics 1,409 150 1,559 218 6 85 1,868 
			 English and drama 2,119 128 2,247 374 4 142 2,767 
			 Science 2,464 150 2,614 375 5 94 3,088 
			 Modern foreign languages 1,699 16 1,715 261 1 23 2,000 
			 Total technology 1,774 387 2,161 420 17 57 2,655 
			 History 933 0 933 70 1 15 1,019 
			 Geography 1,024 11 1,035 37 1 11 1,084 
			 Physical education 764 566 1,330 88 1 30 1,499 
			 Art 843 0 843 59 0 5 907 
			 Music 627 29 656 44 0 18 718 
			 Religious education 581 7 588 25 1 6 620 
			 Citizenship 147 0 147 0 0 0 147 
			 Other 231 0 231 60 10 20 321 
			 Secondary total 4,615 1,444 16,059 2,031 47 506 18,643 
			 Grand total 21,364 7,830 29,194 3,244 165 921 33,524 
		
	
	Source:
	Teacher training agency
	
		Recruitment to courses of initial teacher training and employment based initial teacher training programmes in England in 2002–03
		
			  Postgraduate ITT recruitment Undergraduate ITT recruitment Total ITT recruitment GTP recruitment RTP recruitment OTT recruitment1 Total ITT and EBR recruitment 
		
		
			 Primary 7,988 6,488 14,476 684 16 34 15,210 
			 Secondary
			 Mathematics 1,545 144 1,689 135 1 11 1,836 
			 English and drama 2,386 109 2,495 233 2 19 2,749 
			 Science 2,537 133 2,670 198 0 19 2,887 
			 Modern foreign languages 1,742 7 1,749 128 1 0 1,878 
			 Total technology 2,055 347 2,402 272 1 7 2,682 
			 History 995 3 998 33 0 3 1,034 
			 Geography 1,025 6 1,031 12 0 2 1,045 
			 Physical education 771 554 1,325 48 0 7 1,380 
			 Art 880 0 880 42 0 0 922 
			 Music 604 7 61 1 31 0 3 645 
			 Religious education 573 3 576 35 0 0 611 
			 Citizenship 185 0 185 0 0 0 185 
			 Other 174 0 174 53 0 4 231 
			 Secondary total 15,472 1,313 16,785 1,220 5 75 18,085 
			 Grand total 23,460 7,801 31,261 1,904 21 109 33,295 
		
	
	Source:
	Teacher training agency
	(7) Entrants to date. There will be further intakes in the spring and summer 2003 terms.

TREASURY

Capital Gains Act

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Inland Revenue's guidance that the words substantial extent in the Capital Gains Tax Act 1992, Schedule A1, paragraph 22A(1) means 20 per cent. or more, to what the 20 per cent. figure refers.

Annette Brooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what the figure of 80 per cent. used by the Inland Revenue to judge whether a company's activities are primarily trading activities applies.

Dawn Primarolo: The figure relates to the proportion of a company's activities which are not trading activities. The Inland Revenue will publish guidance in Tax Bulletin 62 (to be issued in December 2002) on how to determine for Capital Gains Tax taper relief purposes whether a company's non-trading activities amount to more than 20 per cent. of its total activities. This guidance, which updates the earlier guidance published in June 2001 in Tax Bulletin 53 by reflecting changes to the legislation which were introduced in Finance Act 2002, is available now on the Revenue website at:
	www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/bulletins/tax—bulletin—taper— relief.htm.
	A hard copy is being placed in the House of Commons Library.

Double Taxation Convention

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assurances have been received by him from officials in the relevant Government Departments in (a) the UK and (b) the USA that a mutually agreed agenda for ratification of the UK/US Double Taxation Convention has been fixed and is being adhered to.

Dawn Primarolo: It is not possible to fix a mutually agreed agenda for ratification of the new UK/USA Double Taxation Convention because the UK and USA have ratification procedures that lie outside the control of the Government Departments concerned. However, the ratification process was completed in the UK on 20 November 2002 and we expect the US Senate to consider the Convention early in 2003.
	The Convention requires that the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged as soon as possible after each country has ratified the Convention. Both countries are moving as quickly as they can to achieve that.

Double Taxation Convention

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Governments of the UK and the US expect to complete the process of ratification of the UK/US Double Taxation Convention signed on 24 July 2001.

Dawn Primarolo: The ratification process for the new UK/USA Double Taxation Convention was completed in the United Kingdom on 20 November 2002. In the US the convention has been transmitted to the Senate, which is expected to consider it early in 2003. Instruments of ratification will be exchanged by the two Governments as soon as possible after the Senate has given its advice and consent to ratification.

Double Taxation Convention

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Government expect to announce to business and other interested parties (a) the date on which the UK/US Double Taxation Convention will come into force and (b) the date on which its provisions will take effect.

Dawn Primarolo: The UK/USA Double Taxation Convention will enter into force on the same day that instruments of ratification are exchanged by the two governments. When that has taken place, an announcement will be published in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes. The Inland Revenue will also publish a News Release announcing the entry into force date and a statement will appear on its website.
	The provisions of the Convention will take effect in accordance with the provisions of Article 29 of the Convention, and will flow automatically from the entry into force date.

Human Corpses

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the powers of Customs and Excise to prevent the importation of human corpses and body parts for the purpose of artistic or public display; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise has no powers to prevent the import of human corpses and body parts whether or not for the purpose of artistic or public display.

Inland Revenue

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies were subjected to penalties by the Large Business Office and Special Business Office in fiscal year 2000–01; what the total levels of penalty were; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Large Business Office and the Special Compliance Office do not at present keep their records in a way that allows this information to be provided, except at disproportionate cost. The Inland Revenue are reviewing their record systems with a view to providing information more easily in future.

Inland Revenue

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases were settled by the Large Business Office and Special Business Office in the last five fiscal years; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The figures are as follows:
	
		
			  Large business office Special compliance office 
		
		
			 1997–98 — 983 
			 1998–99 3,366 877 
			 1999–2000 2,757 869 
			 2000–01 2,519 810 
			 2001–02 2,105 738 
		
	
	For the Large Business Office, figures for 1997–98 are not available on a comparable basis with those for other years. The figures for other years are of numbers of adjustments to taxable profits or losses recorded on issues into which the Office has inquired. In each year, several such adjustments may arise on any one case.
	The Special Compliance Office has focused on larger and more complex cases in recent years. The Large Business Office, focuses resources on achieving greater voluntary compliance by taxpayers.

Inland Revenue Inspectors

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fully-trained Inland Revenue inspectors there were in (a) 1985, (b) 1990, (c) 1995 and (d) 2001; how many general grade inspectors there were in (i) 1985, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1995 and (iv) 2001; how many unfilled general and fully-trained inspector posts there were in each of the above years; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Organisational groupings of Inland Revenue staff were significantly changed in 1993. Consequently the fully-trained inspectors fell mostly into a new Band B group, and the general group of inspectors was mainly replaced by a much broader grouping of them and other staff in a new Band C group.
	The Inland Revenue estimates that the number of fully-trained Inspectors in Band B at 1 April 1995 and 1 April 2001 stood at 1,900 and 1,800 respectively. The total number of staff in Band C were 7,042 at 1 April 1995 and 8,477 at 1 April 2001. A new personnel records system was introduced in 1997, replacing the database for earlier years. Using other, less reliable data the Inland Revenue estimates there were some 2,500 fully-trained and 4,500 general group inspectors in 1985, and 2,100 fully-trained and 5,100 general group inspectors in 1990.
	Records are not kept for the numbers of past staff vacancies.

Mature Students (Child Tax Credit)

Ian Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether mature students in higher education in England whose spouses are in work will be eligible for child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: Yes, provided that the couple is responsible for at least one child or young person.

Methadone

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases methadone appeared on death certificates in each of the last 10 years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to John Mann, dated 4 December 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question asking in how many cases methadone appears on the death certificate in each of the last ten years. I am replying in his absence. (85035)
	Figures for deaths related to drug poisoning are currently available for 1993 to 2000 for England and Wales. The information requested is given in the table below:
	
		Deaths where methadone was mentioned on the death certificate(8), persons, England and Wales, 1993–2000(9)
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1993 232 
			 1994 269 
			 1995 310 
			 1996 368 
			 1997 421 
			 1998 364 
			 1999 298 
			 2000 238 
		
	
	(8) Selected using the following codes from the International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision:
	292 (drug psychoses).
	304 (drug dependence).
	305.2–305.9 (non-dependent abuse of drugs).
	E850-E858 (accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biologicals).
	E950.0-E950.5 (suicide and self-inflicted poisoning by solid or liquid substances).
	E980.0-E980.5 (poisoning by solid or liquid substances, undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted).
	E962.0 (assault by poisoning—drugs and medicaments).
	where methadone was also mentioned on the death certificate.
	(9) Data are for occurrences of death per calendar year.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics (2002) Report: Deaths related to drug poisoning: results for England and Wales, 1993–2000. Health Statistics Quarterly 13, 76–82.

Monetary Policy Committee

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice and instructions the Treasury gave during the last six months to (a) members of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee and (b) their staff on the relevance of house prices to the setting of interest rates; and what advice he has given since his pre-Budget statement.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 3 December 2002
	The Chancellor regularly meets with the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss a wide range of issues. The Treasury representative to the MPC and other Treasury officials also regularly discuss economic issues with counterparts in the Bank of England.
	The MPC's remit is to meet the target of 2.5 per cent. for RPIX inflation, reconfirmed in the Budget.

Network Rail

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the treatment of Network Rail's financing as Government debt in the national accounts;
	(2)  what plans he has to include the total borrowings of Network Rail in the national accounts as Government debt.

Paul Boateng: Network Rail is classified as a private sector corporation in national accounts. Its financial transactions, such as borrowing, are recorded in the financial account of the corporations' sector in national accounts. Its borrowing is not therefore included in the Government sector.
	Government provide subsidies and investment grants to the rail industry, mainly to train operating companies. These payments are counted as part of Government expenditure and would add to Government debt if not financed by Government revenue.

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002–03.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 3 December 2002
	Since 1999, the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 was published on 24 July 2002, Official Report, column 75W. The cost of Ministers' visits overseas for 2002–03 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his statement of 27 November 2002, Official Report, column 326, whether the proportion of an individual's pension fund that is allowed to be taken as a tax free lump sum on retirement will remain the same.

Ruth Kelly: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will publish the Government's Green Paper on pensions on 17 December 2002. This will include proposals to simplify the tax treatment of pensions.
	As confirmed by the Chancellor in his pre-Budget report statement, the tax-free lump sum payment to retirees will remain.

Personal Pensions

Bill Tynan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Treasury of 2 per cent. payments made to appropriate personal pension arrangements was, where contracting out from SERPS commenced between 29 April 1988 and 30 June 1994 and those persons have subsequently been reinstated, as a result of the FSA Review of Personal Pension sales, into an arrangement where the 2 per cent. incentive would not have been payable.

Ruth Kelly: Individuals who had previously been in a contracted-out occupational scheme for two or more years and were entitled to stay in that scheme but left voluntarily after 5 April 1988 while continuing to work for the same employer would not have qualified for the 2 per cent. incentive when taking up membership of an appropriate personal pension (APP) scheme. If these members were subsequently reinstated into the occupational scheme there could have been no requirement to recover an incentive which had not been paid.
	In the other cases, where either the individual had not been in the scheme for two years, or they had never been in the occupational scheme but chose to join the appropriate personal pension scheme despite being eligible to join the occupational scheme, the 2 per cent. incentive would have been paid.
	Two options were used when reinstating individuals into their occupational pension schemes.
	One option involved the removal of the APP arrangement from their NI account and the adjustment of their NI contributions from standard A rate to the contracted-out rate. This action triggered the recovery of the minimum contributions from the APP scheme, which would include the 2 per cent. incentive if paid.
	The other option was to leave the APP in place and the APP provider to pay a transfer value to the occupational scheme sufficient to reinstate the relevant years into the occupational scheme. In these cases because the APP was not cancelled no recovery of the 2 per cent. incentive was made.
	No statistics have been kept in relation to the amount of 2 per cent. incentive recovered in cases where the individual has been reinstated into an arrangement that would not have qualified for the incentive.

Personal Pensions

Bill Tynan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the cost to the Treasury of the 2 per cent. incentive payments made to appropriate personal pension arrangements was, where contracting out from SERPS commenced between 29 April 1988 and 30 June 1994;
	(2)  what the value of 2 per cent. incentive payments reclaimed by the Treasury was, where they were made to appropriate personal pension arrangements where contracting out from SERPS commenced between 29 April 1988 and 30 June 1994, and where those persons were reinstated, as a result of the FSA Review of Personal Pension sales, into an arrangement where the 2 per cent. incentive would not have been payable.

Ruth Kelly: The 2 per cent. incentive was payable for tax years 1987–88 to 1992–93 inclusive. If a member of an appropriate personal pension (APP) scheme was entitled to the 2 per cent. incentive it was paid from the tax year their APP arrangement began until 5 April 1993 or the tax year their APP was cancelled if earlier.
	Statistics show that the net amount of 2 per cent. incentive paid to APP schemes for this period was £3,180.19 million.
	No statistics have been kept in relation to the amount of 2 per cent. incentive recovered in cases where the individual has been reinstated into an arrangement that would not have qualified for the incentive.

Public-Private Finance

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the level of PFI and PPP liabilities over the next 25 years, including contracts to be signed up to the end of financial year 2002–03.

Paul Boateng: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) on 21 November 2002, Official Report, column 280W.

Taxation (Non-domicile Rules)

Patsy Calton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of foreign investment in the UK resulting from the non-domicile tax rules.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave her on 7 November 2002, Official Report, column 743W. Paragraphs 5.81–82 of the pre-Budget report published on 27 November set out the latest position on the review of the residence and domicile rules.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Pipelines

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans her Department has to conduct a social and environmental impact assessment of (a) the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and (b) the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline.

Patricia Hewitt: Social and environmental impact assessments have been carried out by Environmental Resources Management (ERM) for the three countries that the BTC oil pipeline runs through, and can be found on the BTC website: www. caspiandevelopmentandexport.com. The prospective lenders to BTC Co. are receiving independent advice on environmental and social issues.
	ECGD considers relevant impact assessments as part of its due diligence procedures on any application from a UK exporter.

Bank Assets (Holocaust Victims)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the restitution of assets to holocaust victims in respect of bank assets seized in world war two; how many claims have been made; how many outstanding claims have been referred to Lord Archer of Sandwell's panel; and how much compensation has been awarded.

Patricia Hewitt: The Enemy Property Claims Assessment Panel (EPCAP) assesses claims submitted under the Enemy Property Payment Scheme. The Panel of Assessors has nearly completed the assessment of the 1,097 claims received with over 1,050 already settled.
	The amount of compensation paid to claimants now totals almost £8.7 million.

Canadian Engine Manufacturers

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the compatiblity with WTO rules of the level of Governmental support to Canadian engine manufacturers in the context of the competition to provide engines for the A400M; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 28 November 2002
	The airframe manufacturer is currently assessing the merits of the competing bids for the A400M engine contract. The Department has not been provided with any evidence that the Canadian bid is incompatible with WTO rules. In any case, competence for taking action against other governments that may be in contravention of their WTO commitments lies with the European Commission.

Counterfeit Goods

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with (a) the music industry, (b) local authorities and (c) other individuals and bodies regarding the sale of illegal and counterfeit music albums.

Melanie Johnson: The music industry was represented at the meeting I had earlier this year with the industry umbrella group, the Alliance Against Counterfeiting and Piracy, to discuss concerns about intellectual property (IP) crime. The interests of local authorities inthis area are covered by LACORS, the Local Authorities Coordinators of RegulatoryServices, which is one of the bodies participating in the Counterfeiting and PiracyForum. The Forum brings together representatives from both the public and privatesectors to explore collaborative approaches to fighting IP crime. IP crime, which affects many different sectors as well as music, is a topic that comes up in discussions we have with a range of individuals and bodies, and some of these are specifically concerned about counterfeit music recordings.

Departmental Targets

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the extent to which her Department achieved its targets in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 28 November 2002
	The Department publishes information on progress against a wide range of targets in its annual Expenditure Plans Report. This includes information on Public Service Agreements (PSA) targets as well as on Agency and other operational targets. Copies of these reports are available in the Libraries of the House.

Electricity Generation

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contingency plans are in place to ensure continuation of electricity supply in the event of a generating company or power station falling into administration and becoming unable to continue supply to the National Grid.

Brian Wilson: NGC has various statutory duties to help ensure security of supply. However, were the output of a specific station to be essential for security of supply, NGC can seek if necessary to contract with a power station/administrator to maintain supply.

Energy Policy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the UK's total installed electricity generating capacity is; what the maximum daily peak demand for electricity is; and what proportion of this is met by (a) nuclear power generation and (b) energy from renewable sources.

Brian Wilson: Figures published in the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics, 2002 and on the DTI Energy Statistics website show that at the end of December 2001 total UK generating capacity in declared net capacity terms (DNC) was 79,553 MW, of which 73,219 MW was owned by major power producers and 6,334 MW by other generators. The simultaneous maximum load met by major power producers in the UK in the winter of 2001–02 was 58,589 MW in January 2002. An analysis of which plant were in use at the time of this maximum demand is not available. However, of the 79,553 MW of UK generating capacity, 16 per cent. was nuclear, 2 per cent. was natural flow hydro and 1 per cent. was renewables other than hydro.

Innovating Businesses

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made towards the target set in 2000 for achievement in 2001–04, to achieve a significant rise in the proportion of innovating businesses.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 26 November 2002
	The full wording of Public Service Agreement target six was:
	Increase the level of exploitation of technological knowledge derived from the science and engineering base, as demonstrated by a significant rise in the proportion of innovating businesses citing such success.
	This target is measured through a business innovation survey that takes place four yearly, so that achievement of the target will be assessed in 2005. The benchmark for 2000, that we will seek to better is that the share of innovating businesses citing any Science and Engineering Base source is 38 per cent.
	The science and engineering base for this purpose includes universities, government research labs, other public research labs and private research institutes. The citation levels for these individual sources are:
	
		
			  Percentages 
		
		
			  
			 Universities 23 
			 Government Laboratories 16 
			 Other Public Sector 25 
			 Private Public Sector 25 
			 Private Research Institutes 16 
		
	
	Note:
	Individual businesses may cite more than one source.

Miners' Compensation

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for compensation for respiratory disease were made by ex-miners in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001; how many claimants died before receiving final payments, in each year; and how many claims for compensation for respiratory diseases there are.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 3 December 2002
	The information is as follows:
	
		
			  1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Number of respiratory claims registered each year (live and deceased) 29,447 36,886 44,317 
			 Number of claimants who died during this year before receiving full and final settlement (incl. denied and withdrawn claims) 2,684 2,743 2,230 
		
	
	As of 24 November there are 210,446 claims registered for respiratory disease (inclusive of both live and deceased claims).

Ministerial Visits

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times she has visited east Lancashire in her official capacity; and what the purpose was of each visit.

Patricia Hewitt: I had planned a visit to the Ribble area of Lancashire on Wednesday 4 December, but, owing to ill health my visit had to be cancelled. I hope to reinstate a similar visit in the near future.

Net Metering Arrangements

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of homes operating on net metering; and if she will take steps to increase this number.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 3 December 2002
	No definitive information is available on the number of homes with a net metering arrangement though it is known that a small number of companies have offered net metering tariffs to domestic consumers. It is believed that more than 200 customers may have taken these offers up.
	Metering arrangements are a matter for energy suppliers and their customers. The Government, through the Distributed Generation Coordination Group, is working with the industry to encourage the development of suitable metering arrangements for customers with domestic scale generation.

Net Metering Arrangements

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much electricity was returned to the national grid last year as a result of net metering arrangements.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 3 December 2002
	No information is available but the amount returned to the grid is likely to have been very small since it is believed that only a small number of households had a net metering tariff.

Norwich Airport

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Competition Commission has to investigate the sale of Norwich Airport.

Melanie Johnson: Under the Fair Trading Act 1973 a merger qualifies for investigation if it creates or enhances a 25 per cent. share of supply in the UK or a substantial part of the UK, or if the gross value of the world-wide assets being taken over is more than 70 million.
	In the first instance it is for the Director General of Fair Trading to advise Ministers on whether or not a qualifying merger should be referred to the Competition Commission.

Photovoltaic Major Demonstration Programme

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government intends to make a decision on funding for phase 2 of the Photovoltaic Major Demonstration Programme; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: Funding for further phases of the Photovoltaic Major Demonstration Programme is dependent on the emerging success of the first phase. The Government's Energy White Paper, to be published in the New Year, will be looking at the role of renewables, including PV, as a contributor to meeting the UK's and international carbon reduction targets, now and in the longer terms.

Post Offices

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) post offices and (b) sub post offices there were in (i) Chesham and Amersham and (ii) Buckinghamshire in (A) 1975, (B) 1980, (C) 1985, (D) 1990, (E) 1995, (F) 2000, (G) 2001 and (H) 2002.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 3 December 2002
	I am informed by Post Office Ltd. that historic data in the form requested are not available as the company does not require this data for operational reasons.
	However, in 1999, the Post Office undertook a special exercise to determine the number of post offices in each Parliamentary constituency in response to the then hon. Member for Birmingham Erdington on 29 November 1999, Official Report, column 22W. I further understand from Post Office Ltd. that it compiled a list of post offices by Parliamentary constituency as of 20 April 2002 showing their classification as urban or rural offices. A copy of this list is held in the Libraries of the House.

Regional Economic Performance

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made towards the target set in 2000 for achievement in 2001–04, to improve the economic performance of all regions, as measured by the trend in growth of each region's GDP per capita.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 26 November 2002
	It is not possible yet to assess whether there has been an improvement against the baseline for this target. This is because of the long-term nature of the target and the time lags in getting the relevant information to measure the target.
	Measurement of trend rates of growth per capita will use a similar methodology to that used by the Treasury to estimate national trend GDP growth i.e. by calculating average growth rates between points when the economy can be identified a being 'on trend'.

Regional Government Offices (Telephone Queries)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidelines are given to regional government offices for answering hon. Members' queries by telephone.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	No specific guidelines have been sent to government offices on answering telephone inquiries from MPs. However, they act in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Regional Policy

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on the Government's policy on promoting a model of economic growth that would not discourage development in the regions of the UK.

Alan Johnson: I meet the Mayor of London from time to time to discuss a range of issues in connection with the Mayor's Economic Development Strategy and the work of the London Development Agency.

Renewable Energy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the national base resource scenario for onshore wind targets is with regard to (a) minimum average wind speed, (b) maximum wind farm density, (c) spacing of the centres of the wind farms from each others and (d) minimum and maximum wind farm size.

Brian Wilson: The UK windspeed database is available on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/renewable/ windspeed/online.html. The database contains estimates of the annual mean windspeed throughout the UK. The data is intended as a guide as on-site measurements are needed for a proper assessment of any individual site. It does not set scenarios for onshore wind targets.
	The British Wind Energy Association estimates that wind turbines start operating at wind speeds of 4 to 5 metres per second (around 10 miles an hour) and reach maximum power output at around 15 meters/second (around 33 miles per hour). At very high wind speeds, i.e. gale force winds, (25 metres/second, 50+ miles/hour) wind turbines shut down.
	Project specific matters such as wind farm density, spacing and size are issues for project developers to consider. All onshore wind farms are subject to the relevant planning regime and developers must seek consent to construct and operate wind farms from the relevant planning authorities. Decisions are taken on a case by case basis.

Renewable Energy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support the Government is providing for community combined heat and power schemes based on renewable energy.

Brian Wilson: The Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme, which is run jointly by DTI and the New Opportunities Fund with input from DEFRA, included funds for combined heat and power derived from biomass, in particular energy crops, in its recent call for proposals (which closed on 31 October).
	DEFRA runs the £50 million Community Energy programme which encourages combined heat and power in community heating schemes through grants. Around one quarter of the successful bids to the programme have included the use of alternative or renewable fuels.

Renewable Energy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's initiatives on educating (a) local authorities and (b) the public on the objectives of the national drive towards renewable energy generation; and how much funding is being dedicated to these initiatives.

Brian Wilson: The Government are currently carrying out a review of future energy policy with a view to issuing a White Paper in the new year. As a part of this review they are considering the role of local authorities and the engagement of communities in the development of renewable energy.
	Within the allocation of £2.5 million for renewables planning, Government Offices have included awareness raising events in their bids.

Renewable Energy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how host communities of renewable energy projects benefit in terms of revenue royalties from such projects; and what plans she has to introduce further royalty-based benefits for host communities of renewable energy projects.

Brian Wilson: When the community owns and runs renewable energy installations, they can sell the resulting electricity or excess electricity (where the project provides their own source of electricity) or they can sell the resulting Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs). The Community Renewables Initiative is working on means to enable community schemes to aggregate their electricity generation in order to obtain ROCs and improve their viability.
	Additionally, there will be a number of installations under the forthcoming DTI Community and Household Scheme and the joint DTI/New Opportunities Fund Biomass Grant Scheme which will be owned and run by the host community. Such schemes can also benefit through the sale of ROCs.
	A number of communities also gain from leasing their land to developers of renewables projects (eg National Wind Power's Windworks scheme and a number of crofting schemes).
	The Energy White Paper, due to be published early in the new year, will address a range of issues including the engagement of communities in renewable energy developments.

Solar Photovoltaic Industries

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met representatives of the European and Japanese solar photovoltaic industries.

Brian Wilson: I and my ministerial colleagues have regular meetings with representatives of the UK and global PV industry to discuss the UK market and the development of PV manufacturing in this country.

Solar Photovoltaic Industries

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public funding is available for training and skills development in the solar photovoltaics and solar thermal industries; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: For solar photovoltaics there is no specific funding from central Government for training and skills development. However, funding is available through the Department of Trade and Industry's Renewable Energy Programme and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's Supergen Programme to support research and development projects. In addition, the Faraday INREB (Integration of New and Renewable Energy in Buildings) Partnership has a particular focus on training. A UK company is also involved in an EU ALTENER project to develop a training course for PV installers under City & Guilds, and there are a number of other training courses being developed in response to the DTI's Major Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme (PV MDP). Finally, the DTI is running an Installer Accreditation scheme under the Management Contract for the PV MDP.
	For Solar Thermal, the DTI has funded two projects under its Renewable Energy R&D Programme. One entitled XThe Creation of a Training Infrastructure for the Installation of Active Solar Systems" (ETSU Report S/P3/248/REP), and the other under the EU ALTENER Programme, entitled XTraining Plumbers to Design and Install Solar Water Heating Systems for Households" (ETSU Report S/P3/272/REP). There is also a network of Solar Clubs around the country, which aim to teach their members the basics of how to install a solar water heating installation for themselves. Finally, it is also the intention that the forthcoming Community and Household Renewables Scheme will also operate an installer accreditation scheme for the installers of small-scale renewable technology installers, including solar water heating systems.

Staff Salaries

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of her Department's and agencies' full-time employees as at 1 June were employed on salaries (a) under £20,000, (b) between £20,001 and £40,000, (c) between £40,001 and £65,000, (d) between £65,001 and £115,000 and (e) over £115,000; in each group, what percentage were (i) female and (ii) from ethnic minorities; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The table lists the numbers of full-time staff in the DTI and its agencies on 1 June 2002 in the salary bands set out in the question. For each band it gives the percentage that are female and from ethnic minorities, except the highest where the numbers are small enough for individuals to be identified.
	
		
			   Percentage  
			 Salary band Total staff Female Ethnic minority 
		
		
			 Under £20,000 4,224 56.6 15.9 
			 £20,001 to £40,000 3,373 33.9 10.7 
			 £40,001 to £65,000 885 18.2 3.7 
			 £65,001 to £115,000 131 21.4 3.1 
			 Over £115,000 3 — — 
			 Total 8,616 43.2 12.4 
		
	
	I am committed to ensuring that the proportions at all levels properly reflect the proportion of women and ethnic minorities in the UK population and have prepared a strategy to identify actions to address this.

Thailand

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent commitments her Department has made to help promote the development and export of poultry meat from Thailand.

Nigel Griffiths: The Department has made no commitment to help promote the development and export of poultry meat from Thailand.

Torness Power Station

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Torness power station will be generating electricity again.

Brian Wilson: This is a matter for British Energy.
	However, I understand from the company that both generating units at Torness are now in service.

US Steel Tariff

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the impact on British industry of the US steel tariff.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 28 November 2002
	On 5 March 2001, President Bush announced the imposition of increased duties on imports of a wide range of steel products following a safeguard investigation under Section 201 of the US 1974 Trade Act. Based on 2001 figures, 46 per cent. of UK steel exports equivalent to around 215,000 tonnes were covered by the measures. This equates to approximately 2 per cent. of UK producers' total sales of steel industry products. Subsequently the US Authorities announced exclusions resulting in 70 per cent. of UK steel trade with the US being unaffected by the US safeguard action. The Government will continue to take close interest in the US response to further requests from UK companies for exclusions, and will intervene with the US Authorities if necessary.
	Following the US decision, the EU took the precautionary measure of establishing its own safeguard action to protect against a surge of imports into the EU diverted from the US market. In addition, the EU, together with a number of other WTO members (including China, Japan, Korea, Norway and Switzerland) is challenging the US safeguard measures in the WTO. The Dispute Panel ruling is expected in March 2003.

Wind Farms

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what size onshore wind farm buffer zones are in relation to (a) roads, railways and canals and (b) airports.

Brian Wilson: The information is as follows:
	(a) There are no specific buffer zones for onshore wind farms in relation to roads, railways or canals. Each application is assessed on its merits.
	Applicants are advised to consult, at an early stage, the Department of Transport for trunk roads and the local highway authority for all other publicly maintained highways.
	The Strategic Rail Authority should be consulted in relation to construction works near railway lines.
	Each planning application near a canal follows the usual planning procedures and would be decided on the merits of the development, with the British Waterways
	Board available to provide advice to planning authorities. For applications near rivers, applicants will need to take account of the Water Resources Act 1991 and the Land Drainage bylaws 1981.
	(b) Developments within a specified radius of major airports and aerodromes are subject to mandatory consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority or the Ministry of Defence under the Town and Country Planning (Safeguarded Aerodromes, Technical Sites and Military Explosives Storage Areas) Direction 2001. The radius around an airport, within which mandatory consultation is necessary, is detailed for that airport in their particular safeguarding map. The safeguarding map is issued to each local planning authority within the area affected as specified by the legend on the map.
	For a proposed development within a radius of 2 km of an aerodrome, which is not safeguarded, the airport management should be consulted by the applicant about the development.

WTO Regime

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure the WTO regime allows countries to limit imports where there are genuine and demonstrable ethical objections to a product or its method of production on (a) environmental and (b) animal welfare grounds.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 20 November 2002
	The UK has been working with our EU colleagues on these issues for a number of years, as trade is a matter of community competence. Environmental and animal welfare issues have long been included among the EU's WTO negotiating priorities. At Doha, the EU successfully secured negotiations in the current WTO round to clarify the relationship between the trade clauses in Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and WTO law. In the negotiations we are pushing for a presumption of conformity between WTO rules and specific trade obligations in specific MEAs. This would cover trade measures in existing international MEAs on trade in endangered species, ozone-depleting substances, hazardous waste and chemicals. The Doha mandate also ensures that the issue of farm animal welfare will be taken into account as part of the current agreement on agriculture negotiations.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghan Refugees

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the funding implications are of the agreement between UNHCR, the Iranian Government and the Afghan Interim Administration on resettling the 2.2 million Afghan refugees from Iran to Afghanistan; and what Britain's contribution to this funding is.

Clare Short: holding answer 18 November 2002
	On 3 April 2002, at the time of signing, the Tripartite agreement with the governments of Iran and Afghanistan, UNHCR estimated that some 1.5 million Afghan refugees were in Iran. In 2002, UNHCR allocated 6 million specifically for assistance to the Afghan refugees in Iran.
	Following the signing of this agreement, 400,000 Afghan refugees have voluntarily returned to Afghanistan from Iran. UNHCR estimate a voluntary repatriation of a further 500,000 Afghan refugees from Iran in 2003. In 2003, The UNHCR appeal has earmarked US$198m specifically for Afghan Internally Displaced Persons and Afghan refugees returning from Iran, Pakistan and the five central Asian states.
	Since September 2001, the UK has contributed over 5m to UNHCR for their programmes of assistance to Afghan refugees. Of our overall contribution to Afghanistan over 1m has been specifically designated for Afghan refugees in Iran. We are also supporting a number of other humanitarian programmes which will help to create an environment for the sustainable return of both refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.

Afghan Refugees

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the level of funding to UNHCR for support to Afghan refugees in Iran has been in each of the last five years; and what the UK contribution has been.

Clare Short: holding answer 18 November 2002
	Since September 2001, the UK has contributed over £5million to UNHCR for their programmes of assistance to Afghan refugees. Of our overall contribution to Afghanistan over £1 million has been specifically designated for Afghan refugees in Iran. We are also supporting a number of other humanitarian programmes which will help create an environment for the sustainable return of both refugees and Internally Displaced Persons.
	The level of UNHCR funding to Afghan refugees in Iran over the last five years 1998—2002 inclusive is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1998 9,556,733 
			 1999 10,660,773 
			 2000 9,238,962 
			 2001 9,089,776 
			 2002 14,736,383 
		
	
	The UK contribution as a whole to displaced persons within Afghanistan and Afghan refugees in Iran, Pakistan and the five central Asian states through UNHCR over the last five years 1998—2002 inclusive is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1998 1,024,984 
			 1999 0 
			 2000 997,437 
			 2001 2,351,057 
			 2002 5,003,203

Afghanistan

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what new steps she is taking to ensure that the people of Afghanistan will have sufficient supplies and resources to survive the winter.

Clare Short: In September DFID provided an additional £11 million to be disbursed to address humanitarian needs over the winter months. This money has now been disbursed. The majority has been provided to support the work of major UN agencies, including the World Food Programme, UNHCR, UNICEF and the UN Joint Logistics Centre (UNJLC), as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross and is intended to help fill gaps in relief assistance for food, water, health care, clothing and shelter. The funding to the UNJLC is to help the UN clear routes in order to gain access to vulnerable people otherwise cut off by the winter snows and poor roads.

Afghanistan

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much economic aid was paid to Afghanistan in 2001 and what the projected figure is for 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: During 2001 all assistance given to Afghanistan by the UK was for humanitarian activities. In the current financial year we have allocated £65 million to humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. So far we have disbursed over £52 million, this includes £10 million to the Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund and over £12 million to meet repayments of Afghan arrears to the international financial institutions.

Afghanistan

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had on the subject of the transfer of aid to Afghanistan from humanitarian to reconstruction projects; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: During my recent visit to Afghanistan I had several discussions with Afghan Ministers and UN agencies regarding the transition from humanitarian to reconstruction assistance. This needs to be managed with care because the transitional Administration has very limited capacity to deliver services outside Kabul and humanitarian needs remain considerable not least because the south of Afghanistan is suffering its fifth year of drought. My Department is providing £10 million to the Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund. We are also including a contribution of approximately £12.5 million to help Afghanistan clear its arrears to the international financial institutions so that it can access concessional resources for reconstruction assistance.

Afghanistan

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what appraisal she has made of the level of aid going to Afghanistan in relation to (a) the number of refugees returning and (b) the number of school children.

Clare Short: Since the start of 2002, nearly two million refugees are reported to have returned to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries; in that same period approximately three million children have returned to school. From October 2001 to December 2002, UNHCR have received over $245 million of funding, resulting in their appeal for funds being just under 91 per cent. funded. UNICEF, which is providing, among other things, support to education in Afghanistan, is reporting that their appeal for 2002 has raised just over $137 million, which equates to 72 per cent. of funds requested. In addition to this, funding money is also being directed to education and refugee support via other routes, including bilateral support and through NGOs. In comparison to donor appeals in previous crises the appeals for Afghanistan are in the most part well funded.

Afghanistan

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if it is her Department's policy to continue to give most aid to non-governmental organisations in Afghanistan.

Clare Short: Both the UN agencies and the NGOs have done an excellent job in delivering much needed humanitarian assistance quickly to Afghanistan. To date we have directed the majority of our aid through the UN system and NGOs. We have also placed £10 million in the Afghan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) to provide the Afghan Transitional Administration with funds to support what it has identified as priorities for development. However, most of these funds are being spent on pay for very small salaries for large numbers of civil servants that provide very limited services to the people of Afghanistan. We hope that as the Transitional Administration continues to build its capacity it will be better placed in the future to channel development assistance direct and focus it on areas of greatest need.

Central African Republic

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to help replenish stocks of anti-tuberculosis drugs in the Central African Republic.

Clare Short: The Central African Republic has made an emergency application to the Global TB Drug Facility (GDF) for an estimated years supply of TB drugs. Delivery is expected imminently. Connected to this application, the World Health Organisation (WHO) will soon be fielding a mission to determine the Central African Republic's long term tuberculosis drug needs. Future additional supplies of TB drugs will be secured through the formal application process to the GDF and additional technical support provided by Stop TB. DFID is a partner of Stop TB and the GDF.

Central African Republic

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what evidence has been received by her Department indicating a shortage of medical supplies within hospitals in the Central African Republic.

Clare Short: My Department is aware of reports from UN agencies indicating that there are shortages of medicines in the Central African Republic, particularly in hospitals and health centres in CAR's northern provinces. According to a report on 28 November, two major health zones remain cut off from a re-supply depot in the capital, Bangui, due to the closure of the main road route on security grounds. The result of this has been a shortage of essential medicines and vaccines (e.g. for tuberculosis, polio and yellow fever) in the regional pharmaceutical depots. UK support to CAR is provided through multilateral agencies such as the European Commission.

Cote d'Ivoire

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance she has offered in response to the UN appeal of 21 November for Cote d'Ivoire.

Clare Short: We are working closely with others to try to help bring about a swift and peaceful resolution to the conflict in Cote d'lvoire. We have received several appeals for humanitarian assistance from the UN and other organisations and we are considering how to respond to these in the light of the changing circumstances in the country.

Ethiopia

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact which availability of seaports is having on the transportation of food aid to Ethiopia.

Clare Short: Our ambassador to Ethiopia, who also covers Djibouti, visited Djibouti from 20–22 November. During his visit he was informed that the port is working efficiently and is well placed to handle the food aid imports required to deal with the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, with a throughput of 300,000 metric tonnes per month. The Government of Djibouti indicated that it will do everything it can to help.

Malawi

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reason her Department has no involvement in the water sector in Malawi.

Clare Short: DFID's programme has more than doubled since 1996 (to £70 million per annum). It is concentrated on health, education, governance and sustainable livelihoods support. One of the important lessons of effective development is that bilateral agencies should not seek to work in all sectors but should co-operate with others in supporting reform efforts in different sectors. Japan, Canada, Norway, UNICEF and the World bank are currently engaged in Malawi's water sector.

Mauritania

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on food security levels in Mauritania.

Clare Short: Mauritania is a low-income food deficit country which is vulnerable to drought and desertification. Late and erratic rainfall in southern regions this year has aggravated an already poor food situation in the country. The World Food Programme (WFP) has estimated that there are 750,000 people affected by food shortages. We are monitoring the situation closely and have provided assistance through our contributions to WFP and are considering our response to their latest emergency appeal.

Mauritania

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the level of malnutrition among children in Mauritania.

Clare Short: We have no figures for children affected by malnutrition in Mauritania as a whole. However, Oxfam report that a nutritional assessment carried out in September 2002 in the Aftout region by UNICEF, World Food Programme (WFP) and international NGOs concluded that 56 per cent. of the children were suffering from malnutrition. The WFP estimates that 750,000 people are affected by food shortages. We have provided assistance through our contributions to WFP and are considering our response to their latest appeal.

Red Crescent Society (Mauritania)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will provide financial assistance for the small scale food security projects proposed by the Red Crescent Society in Mauritania.

Clare Short: We have no plans to provide financial assistance to the food security projects proposed by the Red Crescent Society in Mauritania.

Rinderpest Disease

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what evidence has been collected by her Department indicating the potential for a resurgence in the Rinderpest livestock disease in Africa.

Clare Short: The history of Rinderpest outbreaks points to the potential for rinderpest to undergo resurgence wherever the virus persists within a population.
	Investigations by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Operation Lifeline Sudan and the Pan-African Programme for the Control of Epizootics (PACE) indicate that eradication campaigns have now been successful in removing persistent foci of Rinderpest virus in Southern Sudan, although definitive confirmation is not yet possible. The main challenge is therefore the South Somali pastoral ecosystem that has shown itself to have the potential to infect populations in both Kenya and Tanzania. Unregulated trade—particularly the Informal' trade routes—could potentially export the disease further afield.
	In addition to the funds that the UK provides to pan-African Programme for the Control of Epizootics (PACE) by way of the EC, DFID also directly funds the Community-based Animal Health and Participatory Epidemiology unit of the African Union's Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources. This unit is developing community-based animal heath delivery and surveillance systems which enable rinderpest vaccination and early warning of potential outbreaks to be carried out in the remote areas where rinderpest has persisted.

Rinderpest Disease

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what precautionary steps are being taken to ensure the trade of cattle across the Red Sea does not result in the spread of Rinderpest disease.

Clare Short: The sanitary control of livestock imports remains the responsibility of importing countries. Saudi Arabia has banned the import of cattle from Somalia, but informal trade, which is much less susceptible to regulation, probably persists across the Red Sea. Efforts are therefore needed to identify and control the persistence of Rinderpest virus at source. To this end DFID and the EC have been working in partnership with the African Union's Bureau for Animal Resources, the EC-funded pan-African Programme for the Control of Epizootics (PACE) programme and the Office International des Epizooties (the O.I.E.—the world organisation for Animal Health) to assist African countries in Rinderpest eradication, and subsequently in meeting the requirements of the O.I.E. 'Pathway', which leads to international recognition of Rinderpest freedom for the benefit of importing countries.
	In particular, through its DFID-funded Community Based Animal Health and Participatory Epidemiology (CAPE) initiative AU/IBAR has developed service delivery systems that are capable of delivering mass vaccination in marginal areas such as the Somali pastoral eco-system, even in the presence of conflict, and of maintaining disease surveillance and early warning systems that feed into national systems.

Rinderpest Disease

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the latest levels of Rinderpest disease in (a) Southern Somalia and (b) Northern Kenya.

Clare Short: Southern Somalia and Northern Kenya together comprise the Somali Xpastoral ecosystem". Following the successes of recent years in eliminating the virus elsewhere, the Somali ecosystem constitutes what is probably the last reservoir of Rinderpest infection in the world.
	Through DFID's long-standing involvement in Rinderpest control our understanding of the factors underpinning the disease and its persistence within pastoral ecosystems highlights the importance of several factors. These include:
	The periods of drought which affect both Northern Kenya and South Somalia (forcing herders to migrate further with their livestock when they occur);
	The ecosystem's remoteness and underdevelopment;
	Conflict and civil war, which hamper control and surveillance efforts-particularly in Somalia.
	DFID's direct involvement in efforts to eradicate the virus (which comprises financial support to the African Union's Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources and partnerships with EU-funded regional disease control programmes) has therefore been complemented by broader programmes in the fields of sustainable development, of vulnerability management through good governance and of conflict resolution.
	The fact that the Somali ecosystem is now believed to contain the last remaining foci of the disease underlines the considerable achievements that have been made in the field of Rinderpest eradication in the last fifteen years. The target for global eradication stands at 2010. The indications are that this target is achievable.

Rwanda

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial aid she has allocated for the assistance of the elections in Rwanda in July 2003.

Clare Short: We are in close liaison with the Government of Rwanda and other international partners, in discussing provision of support for elections. We have not yet determined the level of support required.

Southern Africa

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to ensure children attending schools in Southern Africa are provided with a nutritional meal during their day's work.

Clare Short: We are funding food through the World Food programme to vulnerable groups in Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. As part of these food pipelines, WFP is providing special support to school age children in Malawi and Lesotho to help ensure continued school attendance. WFP is also targeting malnourished children in Malawi with a programme of selective supplementary feeding. In Zimbabwe, WFP is planning to provide high-energy biscuits for school children in the worst affected areas. UNICEF is also providing programmes for supplementary and therapeutic feeding in the region, and is helping to target child-headed households and orphans for humanitarian assistance.
	In addition, in Zimbabwe, DFID has been funding NGOs to provide supplementary feeding for children since September 2001. In October 2002, NGOs funded by DFID provided one protein-fortified maize meal a day for 570,000 under five and primary school children in Zimbabwe. We plan to increase numbers reached to 800,000 each month by the end of the year.

Trade-related Capacity Building

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to increase aid for trade-related capacity building.

Clare Short: In November 2001 I announced a further £20 million package of support to trade-related capacity building bringing the total commitment since 1998 to £37.8 million. In 2003–04 DFID will focus our trade-related capacity building on four key objectives:
	Developing countries' effective participation in negotiations and rule making
	Mainstreaming trade into national development plans and country poverty reduction strategies
	Building sustainable country-level capacity to make good pro-poor trade policy and promote the participation and representation of poor people in trade policy dialogue
	Developing the supply-side response to take advantage of market access opportunities.
	We will focus in particular on DFID's Africa Trade and Poverty Programme and the Integrated Framework.

Uganda

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian requirements in Northern Uganda.

Clare Short: The circumstances faced by people in Northern Uganda are of grave concern. Humanitarian consequences of the continuing conflict are high, with an estimated 600,000 internally displaced persons and declining levels of food security due to disruption of harvesting and planting seasons. DFID has committed £450,000 so far this year for humanitarian supplies, and we continue to monitor the situation very closely with international partners and the Government of Uganda. We are currently considering additional proposals in the light of recent appeals.

Uganda

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she has taken to assist in rehabilitation efforts in south western Uganda.

Clare Short: The UK continues to support Uganda's efforts to deal with regional conflicts through dialogue with its neighbours. DFID is also providing assistance for the implementation of the Amnesty Act and the Defence Review, plus support to local civil society to strengthen networking, advocacy and lobbying for peace.

Uganda

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what funding has been allocated for (a) World Health Allocation, (b) International Organisation for Migration and (c) United Nations Development Programme, as part of the response of her Department to the 2002 United Nations Consolidated Appeal for Uganda; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what funding her Department has made available for the (a) recovery and infrastructure and (b) protection and human rights sections of the 2002 United Nations Consolidated Appeal for Uganda.

Clare Short: DFID is considering the UN Consolidated Appeal as a component of our wider programme of support to Uganda. Resources are allocated to Uganda primarily through Government systems and in support of the Government of Uganda's own Poverty Eradication Action Plan.

UN Consolidated Appeal

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response she will make to the 2002 consolidated appeal by the United Nations for (a) Eritrea, (b) Burundi and (c) Uganda.

Clare Short: The UK does not usually intervene directly to address humanitarian crises, but contributes funding to specialist organisations. These contributions are made through responses to the United Nations Consolidated Appeals, to appeals by the International Committee of the Red Cross and from international relief agencies.
	We contributed £1,350,000, £850,000, and £611,000 for humanitarian work in Eritrea, Burundi and Uganda respectively, in 2002. The 2003 appeals have now been issued and we are giving consideration to our response. Actual support in 2003 will depend on the level of humanitarian needs.
	Additional funding is provided through core support to international organisations including the UN, and through the European Commission. Nearly 20 per cent. of EC funding is paid for by DFID contributions.

UNHCR

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the funding shortfall within UNHCR; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: I discussed funding of UNHCR when the High Commissioner for Refugees visited London in July. Subsequent meetings have taken place between officials in Geneva and London, where funding of the agency was one of the items under discussion. We provided advice to UNHCR on the availability of funds from our regional programmes in response to local need.
	We are aware of the immense needs which UNHCR is mandated to address and the financial constraints within which it operates.
	Our core unearmarked contribution for 2002 is £14 million. In addition, we respond as appropriate to direct appeals from UNHCR for assistance with specific short-term refugee emergency situations and reintegration programmes. In 2002 this assistance amounts to £3.925 million to date. The UK share of EC Development Assistance, including humanitarian, in 2001 was 18.9 per cent. making the UK one of the EC's largest donors. In 2001 therefore, the UK provided £7.9 million for UNHCR through the EC's overall contribution of £41.8 million.
	I have also recently approved an extra £1 million to fund UNHCR's community services activities in Africa. This will help underpin UNHCR's key protection activities: prevention of sexual and gender based violence, HIV awareness, self-reliance, youth education and capacity building of refugee social support networks.
	The UK has a strong record of support to UNHCR, both in response to emergency appeals and through longer-term institutional strengthening, focusing on helping the agency improve its management, working partnerships and programming. These partnership principles underpin DFID's Institutional Strategy Paper (ISP) for UNHCR, agreed with the agency in December 2001, and which forms the basis of our funding arrangement.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Speeding

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many motorists were fined owing to being caught speeding by road traffic speed cameras in Lancashire in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the total amount of revenue generated by road traffic speed cameras in Lancashire was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the last year for which figures are available.

Bob Ainsworth: Available information, by calendar year, is given in the table. Data for 2001 will be available in the new year.
	
		Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for speed offences detected by cameras(10),(11) in Lancashire police force area 1996, 1997 and 2000
		
			  Fixed penalties Court proceedings  
			 Year Number of tickets(12) Estimated revenue(14)(£000) Number of fines Total amount of fine  (£000) Average fine (£) 
		
		
			 1996 4,028 161.1 302 19.9 66 
			 1997 5,620 224.8 477 37.1 78 
			 2000 24,500(14) 1,062.0(14) 926 79.8 86 
		
	
	(10) Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types from 1999.
	(11) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(12) Paid ie no further action.
	(13) 'Estimate' based on £40 fixed penalty charge for 1996, 1997 and January to October 2000. From November 2000 the penalty was raised to £60.
	(14) Provisional.

Asylum Seekers

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons originating from countries that are not members of the Commonwealth were granted political asylum in Great Britain in 2001, broken down by their country of origin.

Beverley Hughes: I regret that information on the number of asylum seekers granted asylum in Great Britain in 2001 is not available—applications are made for asylum in the United Kingdom (UK). Reliable information on the geographical location of applicants at the time of decision outcomes is not available by region. Information on the country of origin of asylum applicants is not available.
	The table provides statistics on the outcomes of initial decisions made on applications for asylum in the UK in 2001 relating to principal applicants who were nationals of countries that are not members of the British Commonwealth.
	
		Initial decisions(15),(16) on applications for asylum in the UK from non-Commonwealth nationals, excluding dependants, by type, and broken down by nationality, 2001
		
			  Total initial decisions Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave Total refused 
		
		
			 Europe 
			 Albania 1,710 30 160 1,525 
			 Armenia 145 15 — 130 
			 Azerbaijan 125 20 5 100 
			 Belarussia 510 5 5 500 
			 Bosnia-Herzegovina 185 10 20 155 
			 Bulgaria 145 — 10 130 
			 Croatia 390 15 10 360 
			 Czech Republic 895 — 5 890 
			 Estonia 265 — — 265 
			 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 11,165 340 2,015 8,810 
			 Georgia 205 10 5 190 
			 Hungary 10 — — 10 
			 Kazakhstan 40 — 5 35 
			 KyrgyzStan 10 — — 10 
			 Latvia 395 — 5 390 
			 Lithuania 685 — 30 655 
			 Macedonia 625 5 140 480 
			 Moldova 400 5 45 345 
			 Other FSU (n/k) 5 — — — 
			 Poland 805 — 10 790 
			 Romania 2,155 — 70 2,080 
			 Russia 870 20 35 815 
			 Slovakia 95 5 — 90 
			 Slovenia 5 — — 5 
			 Tajikistan 15 — — 10 
			 Turkey 7,000 195 275 7,190 
			 Turkmenistan 5 — — 5 
			 Ukraine 1,145 10 25 1,110 
			 Uzbekistan 30 — — 25 
			 Other Europe 40 — 5 35 
			 Total excluding UK Commonwealth 30,680 685 2,885 27,105 
			  
			 Americas 
			 Argentina 5 — — — 
			 Bolivia 55 — 5 50 
			 Brazil 70 — 5 65 
			 Chile 15 — — 10 
			 Colombia 750 40 55 660 
			 Cuba 30 — — 25 
			 Ecuador 510 10 10 490 
			 El Salvador — — — — 
			 Guatemala — — — — 
			 Guyana 5 — — 5 
			 Haiti 5 — — 5 
			 Honduras — — — — 
			 Mexico 5 — — 5 
			 Nicaragua — — — — 
			 Peru 35 — 10 25 
			 Surinam 5 — — — 
			 Uruguay — — — — 
			 Venezuela 20 — — 20 
			 Other Americas 25 — 5 20 
			 Total excluding UK Commonwealth 1,510 60 90 1,360 
			 Middle East and North Africa 
			 Bahrain 5 — — — 
			 Egypt 105 5 5 90 
			 Iran 5,825 555 295 4,975 
			 Iraq 8,880 815 1,855 6,210 
			 Israel 100 — 5 90 
			 Jordan 50 5 5 45 
			 Kuwait 60 5 10 40 
			 Lebanon 455 15 20 420 
			 Libya 385 60 80 225 
			 Morocco 50 — — 50 
			 Oman 5 — — 5 
			 Palestine 70 5 — 60 
			 Saudi Arabia 20 — — 10 
			 Syria 220 20 15 185 
			 Tunisia 45 5 — 40 
			 UAE 5 — 5 — 
			 Yemen 275 25 25 225 
			 Total excluding UK Commonwealth 16,520 1,520 2,325 12,670 
			  
			 Africa 
			 Algeria 2,665 60 75 2,530 
			 Angola 1,255 100 495 665 
			 Benin 15 — — 10 
			 Burkina Faso 25 — — 20 
			 Burundi 1,095 225 250 625 
			 CAR 5 — — 5 
			 Chad 105 20 5 80 
			 Comoros — — — — 
			 Congo 885 105 70 690 
			 Democratic Republic of Congo 2,435 310 330 1,795 
			 Djibouti 5 — — 5 
			 Equatorial Guinea 5 — — 5 
			 Eritrea 1,300 120 235 945 
			 Ethiopia 1,155 85 235 835 
			 Gabon 5 — — 5 
			 Guinea 110 25 10 75 
			 Guinea-Bissau 25 — — 25 
			 Ivory Coast 485 15 20 445 
			 Liberia 190 10 90 90 
			 Madagascar — — — — 
			 Mali 5 — — 5 
			 Mauritania 10 — — 10 
			 Niger 25 — — 25 
			 Rwanda 965 200 320 445 
			 Senegal 15 — — 15 
			 Somalia 8,305 2,845 1,960 3,495 
			 Sudan 770 120 50 595 
			 Togo 150 20 15 110 
			 Other Africa 5 — — — 
			 Total excluding UK Commonwealth 21,980 4,270 4,165 13,550 
			  
			 Far East 
			 Afghanistan 12,155 2,280 7,370 2,530 
			 Bhutan 90 15 5 65 
			 Burma (Myanmar) 125 30 5 90 
			 Cambodia 5 — — 5 
			 China 4,290 15 160 4,110 
			 Hong Kong 15 — — 15 
			 Indonesia 385 5 — 360 
			 Japan 5 — — 5 
			 Korea North 15 — — 15 
			 Korea South 5 — — 5 
			 Macau 5 — — 5 
			 Mongolia 180 — — 180 
			 Nepal 1,000 25 15 960 
			 Philippines 55 — 5 50 
			 Taiwan 5 — — 5 
			 Thailand 30 — — 30 
			 Vietnam 390 15 70 300 
			 Western Samoa — — — — 
			 Other Far East 5 — — 5 
			 Total excluding UK Commonwealth 18,735 2,370 7,635 8,730 
			  
			 Grand Total excluding UK Commonwealth 89,425 8,910 17,100 63,415 
		
	
	(15) Provisional figures rounded to nearest 5, with '—' = 1 or 2 (except percentages)
	(16) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decision

Asylum Seekers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost of legal aid for an asylum seeker was in the last 12 months; how much was spent in the last year on legal aid for asylum seekers; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	The Legal Services Commission's systems do not record expenditure in such a way as to separate asylum seekers from immigration and nationality cases generally. Nor does the commission record information on individual cases 1 .
	The Commission can provide an estimate of the average cost of publicly-funded work for the stages of an immigration and asylum case based upon claims received for work conducted during year 2001–02:
	work on an asylum application up to and including the initial decision cost on average £900;
	work on an appeal to the Immigration Adjudicator cost on average £1,000.
	work on a further appeal to a full hearing at the Immigration Appeals Tribunal cost on average £1,000; and
	the average cost of publicly-funded legal representation for immigration and asylum cases was £3,133. This could cover proceedings in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and the House of Lords.
	Payments for all immigration and asylum advice, assistance and representation in 2001–02 came to a total of £129.7 million.
	1 The number of publicly-funded asylum cases decreases at each stage. For example, only a small proportion of cases would be taken to the ImmigrationAppeal Tribunal, and even fewer to proceedings in the High Court or Court of Appeal. It is therefore wrong to aggregate the average costs reported in this answer and imply that the sum is the average cost of a typical asylum case.

Asylum Seekers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers awaiting removal from the country his Department has failed to contact; what steps have been taken with regard to these asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I regret that the information requested is not available. Asylum applicants do not always inform the Immigration Service (IS) that they are leaving the United Kingdom.
	We are making improvements in contact management, as detailed in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act, 2002. We will seek to maintain contact with all asylum seekers. Asylum seekers will be informed of their obligations to provide up-to-date address details, and to report as required, during the induction process. Provision of support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is conditional on complying with these requirements. Those not accommodated by NASS will also be required to report. The IS will manage the contact process actively through the eight designated reporting centres, by using police stations and by visiting asylum seekers at their accommodation.

Asylum Seekers

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers there were in Somerset in each of the last three years.

Beverley Hughes: The information is not available in the form requested.
	The availability of information on the location of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom is currently linked to the support the asylum seeker receives. Asylum seekers in the United Kingdom either receive support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS), local authorities or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), or are supporting themselves.
	Currently, asylum seekers provided accommodation by NASS are not dispersed to Somerset because NASS has no dispersal accommodation there. Some asylum seekers supported by NASS find their own accommodation and receive subsistence-only support from NASS. The following table shows the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) who were receiving subsistence-only support from NASS, and were resident in the South West region (which includes Somerset) at the requested dates:
	
		
			  Number of asylum seekers (including dependants) receiving subsistence-only support from NASS in the South West region(17) 
		
		
			 End of December 2000 145 
			 End of December 2001 350 
			 End of September 2002 540 
		
	
	(17) Figures have been rounded to the nearest five. These figures exclude cases where support has been ceased.
	From the grant claims sent to the Home Office by local authorities, as at the end of September 2002, and the end of September 2001, there were five asylum seekers (excluding dependants) who were being supported by Somerset Local Authority. 1
	No information is held centrally on the numbers of asylum seekers supported by DWP or who support themselves living in Somerset.
	Statistics on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS in each region are available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	1 Asylum seekers are not necessarily resident in the Local Authority which supports them due to the voluntary dispersal programme which operated prior to NASS.

Burglary

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the monthly burglary rates in the areas covered by the street crime initiative in the last two years.

John Denham: General recorded crime figures for the period from April 2002, the period of the street crime initiative, have yet to be collated. Details of domestic burglary figures for three-month periods up to March 2002, for the 10 police force areas involved in the street crime initiative, are given in the table.
	
		Recorded crime: Number of domestic burglary offences recorded from April 2000 to March 2002, by quarter
		
			 Street crime initiative forces April 2000 to June 2000 July 2000 to September 2000 October 2000 to December 2000 January 2001 to March 2001 April 2001 to June 2001 July 2001 to September 2001 October 2000 to December 2001 January 2002 to March 2002 
		
		
			  
			 Avon and Somerset 2,823 2,891 3,346 3,336 3,529 3,840 3,693 4,933 
			 Greater Manchester 9,447 9,043 9,878 10,816 9,232 8,940 10,246 10,663 
			 Lancashire 2,285 2,374 2,825 3,159 3,071 3,266 2,990 2,775 
			 Merseyside 2,882 2,997 3,163 3,472 3,499 3,498 3,655 3,695 
			 Metropolitan police 16,651 16,523 18,137 18,858 16,596 18,352 19,599 19,384 
			 Nottinghamshire 3,032 2,801 3,191 3,236 2,923 3,420 3,638 4,352 
			 South Yorkshire 3,827 3,185 3,526 4,150 3,482 3,607 4,326 4,773 
			 Thames Valley 3,106 2,867 3,642 3,607 2,827 3,486 3,254 3,830 
			 West Midlands 7,229 7,231 8,240 8,293 6,934 7,595 8,777 7,913 
			 West Yorkshire 6,371 6,834 8,491 8,510 6,998 7,842 9,387 10,451 
			 England and Wales total 95,204 93,656 105,666 108,457 95,970 104,486 112,875 117,029 
		
	
	National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS)
	The Home Office counting rules have again been revised as from April 2002, in order to incorporate the new National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS), which aims to introduce a greater degree of consistency to the ways in which crime is recorded in different police forces and to take a more victim orientated approach to crime recording. The effect will be to increase significantly the number of crimes in the recorded crime count.
	Avon and Somerset (from October 2000), Lancashire (from August 2000) and Greater Manchester (from January 2002) introduced the new standard in advance of national implementation, and the recorded crimes in these forces may be significantly affected. West Midlands adopted the Standard in April 1999, and hence the figures given will not be influenced by the Standard.
	The other SCI forces adopted the Standard in April 2002.

Crime (Staffordshire)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on changes in crime rates in Staffordshire in the last 10 years;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the rates of (a) burglary, (b) car crime and (c) street crime in Staffordshire in the last 10 years.

John Denham: Details are given in the table. For car crime, total figures for theft of and theft from vehicles have been used. 'Street crime' is not a separate category in general recorded crime figures, which are based on legal definitions. Figures are given for all robbery, and robbery of personal property, the latter being collected separately from 1 April 1998.
	
		
			 Year(18) All recorded crime All burglary Theft of and from vehicles Robbery (personal and business property) Robbery of personal property(19) 
		
		
			 Number of recorded crimes in Staffordshire 
			 1992 97,536 28,830 28,217 391 n/a 
			 1993 98,421 30,091 27,611 414 n/a 
			 1994 93,757 26,736 25,958 416 n/a 
			 1995 91,495 24,838 23,745 500 n/a 
			 1996 92,155 24,511 21,902 503 n/a 
			 1997 89,957 23,518 20,596 498 n/a 
			 1998–99(20) 91,919 20,391 19,464 509 428 
			 1999–2000(21) 98,852 19,155 17,601 697 550 
			 2000–01 104,705 17,106 16,071 796 633 
			 2001–02 117,274 18,801 17,960 964 835 
			  Numbers of recorded crimes per 100,000 population in Staffordshire 
			 1992 9,291 2,746 2,688 37 n/a 
			 1993 9,357 2,861 2,625 39 n/a 
			 1994 8,899 2,538 2,464 39 n/a 
			 1995 8,677 2,355 2,252 47 n/a 
			 1996 8,723 2,320 2,073 48 n/a 
			 1997 8,521 2,228 1,951 47 n/a 
			 1998–99(20) 8,669 1,923 1,836 48 40 
			 1999–2000(21) 9,314 1,805 1,659 66 52 
			 2000–01 9,872 1,613 1,515 75 60 
			 2001–02 11,067 1,774 1,694 91 79 
		
	
	(18) Figures are on a calendar year basis up to 1997, and years ending March thereafter.
	(19) Robbery of personal property has been collected separately since 1 April 1998.
	(20) There was a change in the counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, and hence figures before and after that date will not be directly comparable. However, apart from the total recorded crime figure, it is thought that the categories given would be relatively little affected by the change.
	(21) Staffordshire adopted the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in October 1999, in advance of its national implementation date of April 2002. The 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02 figures for the force will be affected by the Standard, although again, apart for the total recorded crime figure, the categories chosen are thought to be relatively little affected by the change

Criminal Justice

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there will be restrictions on the types of previous convictions that could be mentioned during a trial under the new criminal justice reforms.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The Criminal Justice Bill, introduced on 21 November 2002, will reform the law on admitting evidence of a person's bad character, and will enable evidence such as previous convictions to be used where they are relevant to the case. This will, however, be subject to a power for judges and magistrates to exclude this sort of evidence if admitting it would have an adverse effect on the fairness of a trial.

DCS Ellie Baker

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the reasons for the suspension of Detective Chief Superintendent Ellie Baker.

John Denham: The West Midlands Police (WMP) inform me that the decision to suspend Detective Chief Superintendent Elaine Baker was taken after a member of the public made a complaint, which could result in her facing either a criminal conviction and/or a serious disciplinary sanction.
	A full investigation of the allegations will be undertaken by the Metropolitan Police Service under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to make any further comment at this time.

Detection Rates

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on policies to improve crime detection rates.

John Denham: The Police Standards Unit is currently working with a number of police forces to improve their crime detection rates. This will be achieved through a structured performance enhancement programme, utilising good practice guidance and supported through other existing policies.
	Through the further development and structured implementation of the National Intelligence Model (NIM), police activity can be targeted more effectively at both detecting and disrupting crime. This, coupled with the increased provision of analytical support, will provide the crime and disorder partnerships with the ability to detect crime and bring offenders to justice.
	Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), which is being piloted in nine police forces, will have an impact on detecting crime and denying criminals the use of roads. Figures, after four weeks of the pilots, show 6,580 vehicles stopped; 480 arrests made; 59 stolen vehicles recovered; over £400,000 of stolen goods, vehicles and drugs recovered and £144,000 of vehicle excise duty evasion detected.
	ANPR works by scanning vehicle registrations and checking them against information stored in databases to identify vehicles of interest to the police, such as stolen cars or those involved in crimes. When a suspicious vehicle is recognised it can be the focus of targeted interception and inquiries.
	The Government have made available £182 million over a four year period to expand the National DNA Database. The Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Forensic Science Service are working together to maximise the benefits gained from the expenditure being made in the development and application of DNA and other forensic techniques.

Drugs

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public funding from central Government sources is given to non-governmental organisations for drug education purposes.

Bob Ainsworth: For 2002–03 the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has provided non-governmental organisations, including the National Children's Bureau, Drug Education Practitioners Group and DrugScope, with £100,150 funding for drug education purposes.
	The Government also issued drug education and prevention funding (£5 million in 2001–02 and £9 million 2002–03) to primary care trusts (PCTs). All PCTs and social services departments, in partnership with their local Drug Action Team, will use this funding to commission: (a) primary and (b) secondary prevention activity for all young people identified as at risk.
	The DfES has also committed £15 million to local education authorities to support drug education in schools and this will rise to £17 million in 2003–04. This increase will improve the quality and coverage of drug, alcohol and tobacco education programmes in schools. In many areas non-governmental organisations will be commissioned to deliver substance misuse education. However this is a local decision and there is no central monitoring of whether funds are used by local education authorities and PCTs to fund non-governmental organisations.

Drugs

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions on (a) drug charges and (b) drug dealing there have been in the West Midlands in each of the past four years.

Bob Ainsworth: The numbers of cautions and convictions for all drug offences and trafficking offences in the West Midlands police force area from 1997–2000 are shown the table.
	
		Number of persons found guilty, cautioned, given a fiscal fine or dealt with by compounding for drug offences in West Midlands police area, 1997–2000 -- Number of Persons
		
			  All drug offences Trafficking offences 
		
		
			 1997 5,292 633 
			 1998 6,353 709 
			 1999 5,725 663 
			 2000 5,837 688 
		
	
	Source:
	Home Office Drug Seizure and Offender Statistics, United Kingdom, 1997–2000—Area Tables.
	The Home Office Statistical Bulletin is available on the Recorded Data Service (RDS) website, http:www.homeoffice.gov.uk.rds.pdfs2.hosb402.pdf, and copies are available in the Library.

Drugs

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conferences on the subject of drugs have been attended by Ministers and senior civil servants since May 1997; who the organisers were of each conference; and what financial support from central Government sources was provided for each occasion.

Bob Ainsworth: Ministers and officials regularly attend conferences within the UK and internationally on the subject of drug misuse. To provide the detail requested would incur disproportionate cost.

Drugs

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with his Irish counterpart about lessons for the United Kingdom from drugs courts in Ireland;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with his Swedish counterpart about lessons for the United Kingdom from drugs courts in Sweden.

Bob Ainsworth: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has had no formal contacts with his Irish or Swedish counterpart on this issue, but his officials and those of other Departments monitor the work of other jurisdictions when looking at how the courts in England, Wales and Scotland should respond to those whose offending is linked with a drug habit.

Drugs

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the balance, in terms of Government support, between the harm reduction and harm prevention approaches to drug education.

Bob Ainsworth: Government have a holistic approach to achieving quality standards in the delivery of drug education through the development of a framework of personal, social and health education supported by the National Healthy Schools Standards. This is only one of the many Government initiatives to improve the quantity and effectiveness of drug education.
	Substance misuse education mainly involves harm prevention. However with children of secondary school age and particularly those at greater risk, such as school excludees and young offenders, this is balanced with harm reduction messages. These young people are more likely to be experimenting with illegal drugs and so need more detailed information. The Department for Education and Skills are currently reviewing guidance to schools on drug education and new guidance will be issued by the academic year 2003.

Drugs

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what hospitality has been accepted by his officials from organisations lobbying for the liberalisation of the drug laws since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: None.

Drugs

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specialist assistance is provided for police forces to tackle the sale of illegal drugs.

Bob Ainsworth: Advice and assistance in tackling the supply aspects of drug abuse are available to police forces from a number of sources including the National Crime Squad, National Criminal Intelligence Service, and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise. Advice on best practice is also available from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, the Home Office Drugs Strategy Directorate and the Police Standards Unit. Scientific and technical advice and support is available from the Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch.
	Advice on tracing and confiscating the assets of criminals, including drug traffickers, will be available through the new Asset Recovery Agency when established in February 2003. The Asset Recovery Agency will also train and accredit financial investigators working in law enforcement and other agencies.

Drugs

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what co-operation there has been between his Department and the Office of National Drug Control in the United States in the last three years.

Bob Ainsworth: The United States and the United Kingdom, along with our European Union partners, have an affirmed commitment to exchange ideas and experiences in combating drug use and drug dependence. Members of our two Governments meet often, and there is extensive co-operation between the US and the UK at official level in a variety of fora. For example, we are both signatories of the United Nations' Conventions on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, we both participate in meetings of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and we both co-operate through various UN programmes.

Hoax Emergency Calls

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals suspected of hoax calls to the emergency services have (a) been arrested and (b) had their telephones disconnected since 22 November 2002.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 3 December 2002
	I have been told by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that 12 people have been referred for prosecution and 168 people for disconnection for making a hoax call between 22 and 30 November 2002. Individuals whose phones have been disconnected may still face prosecution, and police are continuing to investigate hoax call cases.

Hoax Emergency Calls

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used by the police to determine whether to (a) prosecute and (b) refer for disconnection those suspected of hoax calls to the emergency services.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 3 December 2002
	I have been told by the Association of Chief Police Officers that they have circulated guidance to all police forces on dealing with hoax calls referring to the importance of identifying and prosecuting offenders, and disconnecting their telephones where appropriate.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether letters to hon. Members and signed by officials at the IND Integrated Case Work Unit are cleared by Ministers before they are sent; and what ministerial accountability is accepted for each letter.

Beverley Hughes: The leaflet 'Information for Members of Parliament about immigration and nationality enquiries', which was published in November 2002, sets out the circumstances where it would not usually be appropriate for Home Office Ministers to intervene in individual immigration cases. It also gave Members information about how to correspond with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND).
	Where Members make written representations directly to officials of IND, the replies are prepared in line with appropriate legislation, departmental instructions and current ministerial guidance. Ministers do not clear these replies.

Leg Restraints

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the use of leg restraints on people in the custody of the police.

John Denham: holding answer 2 December 2002
	I am told by the Association of Chief Police Officers that they issued guidance to all police forces in the use of limb restraints in July 2001.

Police Stations

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police stations have (a) opened and (b) closed in West Sussex this year.

John Denham: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The Chief Constable of Sussex informs me that there are 15 police stations in West Sussex. None has been opened or closed this year. A new police station is planned to be opened in Selsey in April 2003.

Prisons

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on projected prison population figures for the next five years.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The Statistical Bulletin XProjections of Long Term Trends in the Prison Population to 2009" will be published shortly. A copy of which will be placed in the Library.

Psychological Resources (Marc Hodgkiss)

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what psychological resources are available in the Ravenswood House Medical Secure Unit to assess and treat Marc Hodgkiss; and if she will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	Ravenswood House is resourced to provide services to residents and not non-residents such as Mr. Hodgkiss.

Scottish Executive

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many official inter-ministerial meetings his Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 27 November 2002
	As far as records show the following meetings have been held between Home Office and Scottish Executive Ministers since May 1999:
	
		
			 Home Office Minister Scottish Executive Minister Subject discussed Date 
		
		
			 Bob Ainsworth lain Gray (then Deputy Justice Minister) Drugs policy 18 September 2001 
			 Bob Ainsworth Richard Simpson (then Deputy Justice Minister) Drugs policy 26 March 2002 
			 Beverley Hughes Margaret Curran (Minister for Social Justice) Various issues relating to asylum seekers in Scotland 11–12 September 2002 
			 Lord Falconer Colin Boyd (Lord Advocate) and Elish Angiolini (Solicitor General) Prison population, Effective sentences, persistent offenders, bail and enforcement of warrants and fines 15 November 2002

Security Service Surveillance

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  who authorised the (a) recruitment and (b) use by (i) Special Branch and (ii) the security service of a paid agent codenamed Silver Fox in the National Union of Mineworkers during 1984–85; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  who authorised (a) Special Branch and (b) the security service to place a field agent in the circle of Mr. David Nellist while he was an hon. Member; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: Operational decisions at the time would have been for the relevant Chief Officer. It has been the longstanding policy of successive governments neither to confirm nor deny reports concerning Security Service operations.

Superintendent Garry Horlacher

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the reasons for the recent investigation into the conduct of Superintendent Garry Horlacher;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the number of man hours lost as result of the investigation into the conduct of Superintendent Garry Horlacher;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the origin of the regulation regarding staff information on a whiteboard, which led to the investigation into the conduct of Superintendent Garry Horlacher;
	(4)  if he will make a statement on the time taken to complete the investigation into the conduct of Superintendent Garry Horlacher; and what assessment he has made of (a) the costs of the investigaton and (b) the impact upon police morale.

John Denham: I am informed by Cumbria Constabulary that they received a number of allegations, some of which were of a serious nature, which the force considered breached the principles of honesty and integrity, confidentiality, and politeness and tolerance, contained in the Code of Conduct in the Police Conduct) Regulations 1999. The force considered that the more serious allegations merited an investigation under those regulations.
	Cumbria Constabulary advise me that the investigation took three months. It was undertaken by an outside force that has not charged for this work. No officers were suspended, and thus, no time was lost.
	The force recognise that morale may have been impacted by the investigation, but they consider that there would have been a more serious impact if no investigation had been undertaken into the serious allegations made against a senior officer.

Police Morale

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the time spent by police officers on paperwork and administrative tasks; and if he will make a statement on police morale.

John Denham: We are committed to tackling the administrative burdens and inefficient working practices that keep officers off the streets. Sir David O'Dowd's task force was commissioned to give the Government a police service view of what could be done to tackle the administrative burdens and inefficient working practices which keep police officers off the streets. The task force report, published on 17 September, highlighted ways to free up significant amounts of officers' time. A steering group, co-chaired by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office, is taking the task force recommendations forward. This is a vital opportunity to bring about a real difference to the everyday lives of officers on the front line.
	We have turned around the decline in police numbers that started under the last Government. The investment has been made to deliver a record number of police officers and there are now 5,400 more officers than two years ago. We are on course for our targets of 130,000 officers by March 2003 and 132,500 in 2004. We have also reached agreement on a package of reforms to police pay and conditions of service that is good for the service, for rank and file officers and for the public. We will ensure that officers know and feel that they are valued.

Thames Valley Police

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) civilian support staff were employed by Thames Valley Police in each year since 1 January 1996.

John Denham: holding answer 3 December 2002
	The information requested about police strength has been set out in the table. Figures are only available for March and September of each year.
	
		Thames Valley Police
		
			 Year as at 31 March Police officers Civilian support staff 
		
		
			 1996 3,674 1,738 
			 1997 3,695 1,825 
			 1998 3,776 1,827 
			 1999 3,748 1,799 
			 2000 3,740 1,786 
			 2001 3,703 1,891 
			 2002 3,762 2,061 
		
	
	Source:
	Home Office Statistical Bulletins—Police Service Strength—1996–2002.

Under-age Drinkers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring forward legislation to allow the police to confiscate sealed alcohol containers from under-age drinkers in public places.

John Denham: holding answer 3 December 2002
	We have included a clause in the Licensing Bill, now before Parliament, which will, if enacted, amend the existing legislation to allow the police to confiscate alcohol in sealed containers from young people who are drinking in public places.

Wildlife Legislation

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2002, Official Report, column 243W, how many prosecutions and convictions there have been under the (a) Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996, (b) Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and (c) Protection of Badgers Act 1992 in each year, broken down by region.

John Denham: The available information is shown in the table for England and Wales, 1998 to 2000.
	Statistics for 2001 will be available in due course.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates courts and convicted at all courts under various Wildlife Acts by region, England and Wales 1998(22)
		
			 Region/statute Proceeded against Convicted 
		
		
			 East   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 1 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 3 1 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(23) — — 
			
			 East Midlands   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 1 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 — — 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(23) 2 1 
			
			 London   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 1 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 1 1 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(23) — — 
			
			 North East   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 14 11 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(23) — — 
			 North West   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 1 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 10 8 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(23) — — 
			
			 South East   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 1 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 11 7 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(23) 1 — 
			
			 South West   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 3 3 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(23) 12 — 
			
			 West Midlands   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 2 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 5 4 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(23) — — 
			
			 Yorkshire and the Humber   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 5 3 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(23) — — 
			
			 Wales   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 1 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 19 7 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(23) 4 3 
			
			 England and Wales   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 8 7 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 71 45 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(23) 19 4 
		
	
	(22) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(23) Excludes offences under Protection of Badgers Act 1992, Sec 13.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates courts and convicted at all courts under various Wildlife Acts by region, England and Wales 1999(24)
		
			 Region/statute Proceeded against Convicted 
		
		
			 East 
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 8 7 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(25) 1 — 
			
			 East Midlands   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 5 4 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(25) 9 2 
			
			 London   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 96 74 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(25) — — 
			
			 North East   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 7 3 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(25) — — 
			
			 North West   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 21 12 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(25) 4 3 
			 South East   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 4 3 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(25) 7 2 
			
			 South West   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 9 6 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(25) 1 — 
			
			 West Midlands   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 8 5 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(25) — — 
			
			 Yorkshire and the Humber   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 4 4 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(25) 1 1 
			
			 Wales   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 4 3 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(25) 7 2 
			
			 England and Wales   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 166 121 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(25) 30 10 
		
	
	(24) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(25) Excludes offences under Protection of Badgers Act 1992, Sec 13.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at the magistrates courts and convicted at all courts under various Wildlife Acts by region, England and Wales 2000(26),(27)
		
			 Region/statute Proceeded against Convicted 
		
		
			 East 
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 17 14 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(28) 1 1 
			
			 East Midlands   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 1 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 5 3 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(28) 2 — 
			
			 London   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 2 2 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(28) — — 
			
			 North East   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 4 4 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(28) — — 
			
			 North West   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 1 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 43 42 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(28) 3 1 
			
			 South East   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 1 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 3 1 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(28) 3 — 
			 South West   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 5 2 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(28) 1 1 
			
			 West Midlands   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 1 — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 6 3 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(28) 4 1 
			
			 Yorkshire and the Humber   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 1 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 — — 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(28) 1 — 
			
			 Wales   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 12 9 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(28) 6 — 
			
			 England and Wales   
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 5 4 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 97 80 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992(28) 21 4 
		
	
	(26) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(27) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.
	(28) Excludes offences under Protection of Badgers Act 1992, Sec 13.

Women Prisoners

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated number of women in prison who are drug users is.

Hilary Benn: The random mandatory drug testing (MDT) programme is the most up-to-date available measure of drug misuse in prisons in England and Wales. The annual average figures of positive tests in women's prisons for the last three years are reproduced in the table.
	
		
			 Year Random MDT percentage positive 
		
		
			 2002–03(29) 7.4 
			 2001–02 8.7 
			 2000–01 9.3 
		
	
	(29) Denotes April 2002 to October 2002 figures

Young Offenders Institutions

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many incidents of self-harm have been recorded at each of the prisons in the juvenile estate since April 2000;
	(2)  how many self-harm forms F2052SH have been opened at each of the prisons in the juvenile estate since April 2000.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is shown in the tables. Table 1 covers the 675 recorded incidents of self-harm by juveniles between 1 April 2000 and 30 September 2002. Table 2 covers the number of recorded F2052SHs forms opened in the juvenile estate between 1 January 2000 and 30 June 2002.
	
		Table 1. Showing the number of reported self-harm incidents in the juvenile estate by financial year between 1 April 2000 and 30 September 2002
		
			  Financial year  
			 Establishment 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03(30) 
		
		
			 Ashfield 112 128 51 
			 Brinsford 6 6 7 
			 Castington 41 72 16 
			 Feltham 9 14 5 
			 Hindley 0 2 12 
			 Hollesley Bay 4 8 12 
			 Huntercombe 6 6 0 
			 Lancaster Farms 6 7 2 
			 Onley 4 29 25 
			 Pare 11 0 1 
			 Portland 12 8 0 
			 Stoke Heath 11 13 0 
			 Werrington 1 1 1 
			 Wetherby 8 18 0 
			 Total 231 312 132 
		
	
	(30) 2002–03 figures are up to 30 September
	
		Table 2. Showing the number of F2052SHs opened in the juvenile estate between 1 January 2000 and 30 June 2002
		
			  Calendar Year  
			 Establishment 2000(31) 2001 2002(32) 
		
		
			 Ashfield 150 147 91 
			 Brinsford 134 98 32 
			 Castington 75 109 45 
			 Feltham 260 448 227 
			 Hindley 0 15 80 
			 Hollesley Bay 30 136 50 
			 Huntercombe 112 106 117 
			 Lancaster Farms 68 37 21 
			 Onley 108 73 69 
			 Portland 129 101 8 
			 Reading 0 48 0 
			 Stoke Heath 216 150 68 
			 Werrington 57 99 42 
			 Wetherby 193 197 78 
			 Total 1,532 1,763 928 
		
	
	The data is extracted on a six monthly basis, therefore:
	(31) The figure for 2000 is for the complete calendar year.
	(32) The 2002 figure is for the first six months of the calendar year.
	The Prison Service, with the support of the Youth Justice Board, is developing a suicide and self-harm prevention strategy. This is being taken forward through a three-year programme which runs to April 2004. Work is being targeted where the risks are highest—in local prisons, on remand, in the early weeks and months of custody—within a broad preventative approach. An all-round pro-active approach will encourage a supportive culture in prisons based on good staff-prisoner relationships, a constructive regime and a physically safe environment. Six pilot prisons including Feltham young offender institution are testing the full range of new safer custody policies and standards, and the results of the programme will be subject to independent quantitative and qualitative evaluation.

Youth Initiatives (West Midlands)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children aged between 10 and 16 years have benefited from (a) Positive Futures and (b) similar initiatives in the West Midlands.

Bob Ainsworth: Positive Futures is a partnership managed within the Home Office Drugs Strategy Directorate. There are currently 67 local projects operating in neighbourhoods across England and Wales, all falling within the top 20 per cent. as identified through the multiple deprivation indices. The intended outcomes of the programme are:
	reductions in drug use among those participating in the project;
	an increase in regular participation in sport and physical activity by those involved;
	reductions in youth offending in the locality of the project.
	There are currently nine Positive Futures projects in the West Midlands, four began in June 2000 in Birmingham (Kings Norton), Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. A further five began in April 2002 in Birmingham (Handsworth), Coventry, Lichfield, Rugby and Solihull. The numbers of children and young people attending activities on a regular basis between June and October 2002 was approximately 880.

Youth Initiatives (West Midlands)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many under-17-year-olds participate in Youth Inclusion Programmes in the West Midlands.

John Denham: The Youth Inclusion Programme is part of the Government's approach to reducing youth offending by working with young people to prevent them being drawn into crime in the first place. There are at present 70 Youth Inclusion Programme schemes across the country, with nine schemes running in the West Midlands. Each scheme targets the 50 young people, aged 13 to 16, living in the local area who are considered to be at the greatest risk of social exclusion, crime and antisocial behaviour. The schemes in the West Midlands are running in Coventry, Sandwell, Stoke, Walsall and Wolverhampton, with four schemes in Birmingham. Between July and September 2002, 542 young people under 17 participated in these nine schemes.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Onshore Wind Farms

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which types of designated areas within the United Kingdom are protected from future development of onshore wind farms; and what legislation enforces this protection.

Brian Wilson: I have been asked to reply.
	No areas within the United Kingdom are specifically designated as Xno-go" areas for wind farm development. Each case is assessed on its own individual merit.Planning Policy Guidance Note 7 states that in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, the broads and stes of special scientific interest, the conservation of the countryside, and its wildlife and cultural heritage, should be given great weight in planning policies and development control decisions. Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 states that very special circumstances are needed to justify development in the green belt.

Audit Commission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total expenditure of the Audit Commission was in each year since 1997 and its forecast budget for the coming year.

Christopher Leslie: The information requested on total expenditure by the Audit Commission for each year since 1997 can be found in the following table.
	
		
			 Year ending £ million 
		
		
			 31 March 1997(33) 93.4 
			 31 October 1998 105.7 
			 31 October 1999 111.6 
			 31 October 2000 144.1 
			 31 October 2001 178.8 
			 31 October 2002(34) 212 
			 31 October 2003(35) 207 
		
	
	Note:
	The Audit Commission's financial year, which in earlier years ran from 1 April to 31 March, was amended to run from 1 November to 31 October with effect from 1 November 1997. The year ending 31 March 1997 was therefore the last complete financial year before the change was made.
	The period coincided with the Commission taking on a number of new responsibilities, including those derived from the Local Government Act 1999 on local authority performance. This included the auditing of best value performance plans and the setting up of the best value inspection service. More recently, the Commission has taken the lead role in developing a comprehensive performance assessment process, the results of which are expected shortly. In 2000, the Commission also took on new responsibilities with regard to the National Health Service, involving the review of NHS performance at national as well as local levels.

Building Inspectors

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he proposes to make an order which will allow approved inspectors to check all types of work on all types of dwellings.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to consult relevant parties as soon as possible on procedures for designation of new home warranty schemes for the purposes of the rules governing building control by approved inspectors. Once designation procedures have been established and put into practice, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be able to decide on re-approval of professional indemnity insurance schemes for approved inspectors, in terms that would allow them to deal with all types of domestic building work.

Local Government Finance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister by how much total expenditure would be increased if all parish and town councils in England increased the maximum £3.50 per elector multiplier as specified in section 137(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 up to £5.00 as specified in the draft Local Government Bill; and by how much audit best value and other compliance costs for parish and town councils have increased in each of the last two years.

Christopher Leslie: The maximum expenditure by English parish and town councils currently permitted under section 137(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 is estimated to be about £45 million per year. It is estimated that this would increase to about £65 million per year as a result of the maximum amount increasing from £3.50 to £5.00 per elector.
	Not all parish and town councils make full use of the existing £3.50 amount, but we are increasing it because it has been in place since 1990, and consultation responses to the XModernising Local Government Finance" green paper have shown that it has been inhibiting expenditure for some councils.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information on the total cost of financial audit for parish and town councils. For parish councils, the Audit Commission's 'lighter touch' regime aims to develop a proportionate audit approach as well as a reduction in audit fees for most councils.
	The exact costs of best value are not known. However, the duty of best value should not have added excessive costs when a council is well organised and managed. Any additional costs should have been offset by gains in economy, efficiency and effectiveness and by the new opportunities provided by innovative service delivery through for example by partnership arrangements. Councils would have been free to plough back the savings made into core and other services.
	Moreover, the Government announced in the local government white paper XStrong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" that it will pay a grant of £30,000 per year to Best Value Town and Parish Councils to cover the costs of audit and the corporate costs of carrying out work relating to best value, such as preparation of performance plans and the management of reviews.
	No other compliance costs for parish and town councils are believed to have increased in the last two years.

Local Government Finance

Lynne Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to allow local authorities to charge a punitive level of council tax on long-term voids.

Christopher Leslie: On 19 November, my right hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford) announced we would be giving English local authorities the discretion to reduce or remove the current 50 per cent. council tax discount on long-term empty property. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has included the necessary provision in the Local Government Bill and, subject to parliamentary approval, we aim to implement this change on 1 April 2004.
	We have no plans to allow local authorities to charge more than the full council tax.

Local Government Finance

Andy Reed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received about removing council tax exemption to student houses in multi-occupancy; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: Since August 2001, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received 12 representations from members of the public about the council tax exemption for premises occupied by students. Nine of those believed that landlords should be made liable for the council tax in properties occupied only by students, while three suggested that students should be made liable for the council tax.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to change or remove the exemption from council tax of dwellings occupied only by students.

Fire Service

Joan Walley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the Fire Cover Review and its recommendations; and when he intends to give his response.

Nick Raynsford: The report on the Fire Cover Review was commissioned by the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council and it is for the council to decide whether or not to endorse the report and publish its findings. It was expected that the council would discuss the report at a meeting on 12 November2002, but this was cancelled as a result of the fire service pay dispute. The next meeting is currently scheduled to take place on 12 February 2002. If the Council endorses the report a copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will give a response to the report in the light of the discussion in the Council and after wide consultation.

Green Goddesses (Cinderford)

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will reply to two letters from the Chairman of the Gloucestershire County Council requesting further assistance for extra Green Goddesses and crew to man them for Cinderford, Gloucestershire.

Nick Raynsford: A senior official from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister responded to the substance of both letters from the Chair of the Fire Authority on 11 November 2002.

Local Government (Discretion)

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent legislation has allowed greater discretion to be exercised by local councils and authorities.

Christopher Leslie: The Local Government Act 2000 provided considerable additional discretion to local authorities through the introduction of a new power to promote or improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of their areas unless prohibited elsewhere in legislation. I also refer the hon. Member to the written statement given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford) on 26 November concerning a package of measures to devolve power to local authorities, including recent and proposed changes to legislation.

Local Performance Indicators

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list the local performance indicators monitoring the activities of specific local authorities in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03, for each local authority with local performance indicators.
	(2)  how many best value performance indicators (a) monitored in 2001–02 and (b) are monitoring in 2002–03 the activities of (i) fire and (ii) local authorities.

Christopher Leslie: Local authorities employ a wide variety of indicators to measure their performance across a range of activities, and no central record is kept of them.Where indicators are prescribed by Government under the Local Government Act 1999, these are published annually following consultation with local government and others. The attached table summarises the number of such indicators in 2001–02 and 2002–03 by type of authority. Full details are contained in SI 2001 No 724 and SI2002 No 523, copies of which can be found in the library of the House. A similar number of indicators was previously prescribed by the Audit Commission: these were replaced entirely in 2001–02 by those prescribed by Government under the 1999 Act.
	
		
			  National BVPIs and ACPIs 2000–01 National BVPIs 2001–02 Percentages decrease from 2000–01 to 2001–02 National BVPIs 2002–03 Percentages decrease from 2000–01 to 2002–03 Percentages from 2001–02 to 2002–03 
		
		
			 Unitaries/Met Boroughs 189 123 35 97 49 21 
			 London 189 121 36 94 50 22 
			 County Councils (including fire) 134 105 22. 86 36. 18. 
			 District Councils 91 65 29 51 44 22 
			 Fire 18 18 0 19 N/a N/a 
		
	
	Note:
	BVPIs, ie indicators prescribed by Government under the 1999 Act.
	ACPIs, ie. Indicators prescribed by the Auidt Commission under the Local Government Act 1992, consolidated into the Audit Commission Act 1998.

Neighbourhood Renewal

Patsy Calton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria are applied to give an area neighbourhood renewal status; and where such areas are located, broken down by constituency.

Barbara Roche: The information requested is not broken down by constituency but the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund is allocated to local authority districts that fall within the 50 most deprived authorities on any of the six district level summary measures of the ward level Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD 2000). The six measures are:
	Income scale—the number of people experiencing income deprivation
	Employment scale—the number of people experiencing employment deprivation
	Local Concentration—tells us how severe deprivation is in each authorities 'hot spots' of deprivation
	Extent—the percentage of each district's population that live in one of the 10 per cent. most deprived wards in England
	The 'average scores' and 'average ranks' measures are the average level of deprivation across the entire district.
	This brings in a total of 81 authorities. In addition, there are transitional arrangements in place for seven other authorities that were among the 50 most deprived on the previous measure of deprivation, but which do not appear among the 50 most deprived authorities on the IMD 2000.
	The following lists the 88 authorities currently receiving NRF funding.
	Local authorities in receipt of NRF
	Hackney
	Hastings
	Tower Hamlets
	Derwentside
	Newham
	Hyndburn
	Manchester
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Knowsley
	North Tyneside
	Easington
	Wirral
	Liverpool
	Rotherham
	Middlesbrough
	Burnley
	Islington
	South Tyneside
	Hartlepool
	Southwark
	Halton
	Nottingham
	Blackburn with Darwen
	Doncaster
	Kingston upon Hull, City of
	Leicester
	Sandwell
	Walsall
	Wear Valley
	Barrow-in-Furness
	Redcar and Cleveland
	Newcastle upon Tyne
	Wolverhampton
	Sunderland
	Salford
	Haringey
	Barnsley
	Pendle
	Rochdale
	Gateshead
	Mansfield
	Camden
	Great Yarmouth
	Wansbeck
	Birmingham
	St. Helens
	Oldham
	Stockton-on-Tees
	Bolsover
	Bradford
	Bolton
	Blackpool
	Sefton
	Preston
	Greenwich
	Sheffield
	Kerrier
	Coventry
	Penwith
	Wakefield
	Derby
	Sedgefield
	Leeds
	Waltham Forest
	Barking and Dagenham
	Lewisham
	Brent
	Lambeth
	Ashfield
	Allerdale
	Bristol, City of
	Wigan
	Plymouth
	Luton
	Kirklees
	Enfield
	Westminster
	Hammersmith and Fulham
	Kensington and Chelsea
	Tameside
	Brighton and Hove
	Portsmouth
	Dudley
	Southampton
	Ealing
	Croydon
	Lincoln
	Wandsworth

Polling Hours

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to extend the polling hours for local referenda.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to do so.

Regional Assemblies

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultation is planned prior to referendums on regional assemblies.

Christopher Leslie: On 2 December, the Government launched a soundings exercise on the level of interest in each English region (outside London) in holding a referendum about establishing an elected regional assembly. We are asking for views, information and evidence from people in each region, including local authorities, MPs, MEPs, regional chambers and others. Responses are requested by 3 March 2003.
	This soundings exercise will inform the Secretary of State's consideration of the level of interest in each English region in holding a referendum about establishing an elected regional assembly. Level of interest will be the primary factor in determining which regions will undergo a local government review by the Boundary Committee. Such a review, which must be carried out in a region before a referendum on establishing elected assemblies can be held, will recommend the most appropriate unitary local government structure for those parts of the region that currently have both a county and district council, should an elected assembly be established for the region.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Boundary Review

Peter Luff: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will make a statement on progress with reviewing (a) the boundaries of local authorities in England and (b) the boundary between Wychavon and the City of Worcester.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	No reviews of the boundaries between principal local authorities have taken place recently and we have no plans for such reviews to take place in the immediate future, except as part of any local government review required before a referendum in a region for an elected regional assembly. There is therefore no boundary review taking place between the district of Wychavon and the city of Worcester.
	The electoral commission have recently completed electoral reviews of the district of Wychavon and the city of Worcester-these reviews are of the electoral arrangements within the boundaries of the district and the city.

County Court Summonses

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) writs and (b) county court summonses were issued in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Figures for the number of civil proceedings commenced both in the High Court and county courts since 1997 are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 High Court Chancery Division 38,360 37,428 37,281 37,333 37,034 
			 High Court Queen's Bench Division 121,446 114,984 72,161 26,876 21,613 
			 County Court 2,208,878 2,245,324 2,000,337 1,871,923 1,739,090

High Court Judges (Appointments)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the high court judges the Lord Chancellor has appointed since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: High Court Judges are appointed by The Queen on the recommendation of my noble and learned Friend, the Lord Chancellor.
	Since the Lord Chancellor took office, on 2 May 1997, 57 High Court Judges have been appointed on his recommendation. Their names, together with the Division of the High Court to which they were assigned, and the date of their appointment are listed as follows:
	
		
			 Name Division Appointed 
		
		
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Sullivan Queen's Bench Division 1 October 1997 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Hughes Family Division 1 October 1997 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Park Chancery Division 3 November 1997 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Penry-Davey Queen's Bench Division 12 November 1997 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Pumfrey Chancery Division 24 November 1997 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Richards Queen's Bench Division 1 December 1997 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Charles Family Division 12 January 1998 
			 The hon. Mr Justice David Steel Queen's Bench Division 19 January 1998 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Hart Chancery Division 24 January 1998 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Gray Queen's Bench Division 1 October 1998 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Klevan Queen's Bench Division 1 October 1998(33) 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Bratza Queen's Bench Division 30 October 1998 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Burton Queen's Bench Division 23 November 1998 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Jackson Queen's Bench Division 12 January 1999 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Bodey Family division 12 January 1999 
			 The hon. Mrs. Justice Hallett DBE Queen's Bench Division 14 April 1999 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Elias Queen's Bench Division 4. May 1999 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Aikens Queen's Bench Division 6 May 1999 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Black DBE Family Division 4 October 1999 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Silber Queen's Bench Division 3 December 1999 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Goldring Queen's Bench Division 3 December 1999 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Crane Queen's Bench Division 11 January 2000 
			 The hon. Mrs. Justice Rafferty DBE Queen's Bench Division 21 February 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Grigson Queen's Bench Division 19 April 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Gibbs Queen's Bench Division 19April 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Henriques Queen's Bench Division 19 April 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Tomlinson Queen's Bench Division 2 May 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Munby Family Division 22 May 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Andrew Smith Queen's Bench Division 19 July 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Stanley Burnton Queen's Bench Division 19 July 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Lawrence Collins Chancery Division 28 September 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Hunt Queen's Bench Division 28 September 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Pitchford Queen's Bench Division 28 September 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Coleridge Family Division 28 September 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Patten Chancery Division 2 October 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Leveson Queen's Bench Division 23 October 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Ouseley Queen's Bench Division 2 November 2000 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Etherton Chancery Division 11 January 2001 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice McCombe Queen's Bench Division 11 January 2001 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Jack Queen's Bench Division 11 January 2001 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Owen Queen's Bench Division 15 January 2001 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Mackay Queen's Bench Division 24 January 2001 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Mitting Queen's Bench Division 3 April 2001 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Roderick Evans Queen's Bench Division 23 April 2001 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Davis Queen's Bench Division 1 October 2001 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Gross Queen's Bench Division 1 October 2001 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Keith Queen's Bench Division 2 October 2001 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Cooke Queen's Bench Division 2 October 2001 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Field Queen's Bench Division 15 January 2002 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Hedley Family Division 15 January 2002 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Pitchers Queen's Bench Division 16 January 2002 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Peter Smith Chancery Division 15 April 2002 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Treacy Queen's Bench Division 1 October 2002 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Simon Queen's Bench Division 1 October 2002 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Royce Queen's Bench Division 21 October 2002 
			 The hon Mrs. Justice Cox DBE Queen's Bench Division 4 November 2002 
			 The hon. Mr. Justice Fulford Queen's Bench Division 21 November 2002 
		
	
	(33) Died 26 December 2001

Magistrates

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will reimburse actual lost pay of lay magistrates, rather than a sum based on average earnings; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Financial Loss Allowance is based on average earnings and is paid from cash limited budgets of the Magistrates' Courts Committees allocated from public funds granted by my Department with the concurrence of Her Majesty's Treasury. This method is considered the most equitable way of striking a balance to cover the differing trades and professions within the magistracy.

Magistrates

Mark Tami: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what training and support is given to individuals taking up magistrates posts.

Yvette Cooper: Training of magistrates is the responsibility of Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs) who are required to work within a framework approved by the Lord Chancellor. Under the Magistrates National Training Initiative, the Lord Chancellor requires MCCs to follow the training syllabus produced by the Judicial Studies Board.
	The JSB syllabus requires newly appointed magistrates to attend a series of training sessions covering the essential aspects of magisterial work including 'The Obligations of the Judicial Oath', 'Bail', 'Mode of Trial', 'Evaluation of Evidence', 'Verdict and Sentencing'. It is also expected that magistrates make at least one visit to a local court and to a penal institution.
	A newly appointed magistrate is supported during his or her first two years of sitting by an experienced and trained magistrate acting as a mentor.

Magistrates Courts (Fines)

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total level of fines imposed by the Inner London magistrates courts was in each of the last three years; what the average recovery time was; and what amounts were (a) written off and (b) remitted.

Yvette Cooper: The Inner London Magistrates' Courts Service (ILMCS) became part of the amalgamated Greater London Magistrates' Courts Authority (GLMCA) on 1 April 2001. It is therefore not possible to provide separate data for Inner London from that date, only data for the amalgamated GLMCA. Information on average fine recovery times is not collected.
	The information available is set out in the table as follows:
	
		£ 
		
			 Organisation Year Imposed Written off Remitted 
		
		
			 GLMCA 2001–02 77,640,695 13,916,583 (34)27,931,066 
			 ILMCS 2000–01 60,240,074 5,742,177 4,812,386 
			 ILMCS 1999–2000 54,160,594 7,564,414 6,817,071 
		
	
	(34) Includes all areas within the GLMCA, not just ILMCS

Official Travel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  what the total expenditure of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001–02.
	(2)  what the total budget of (a) the Lord Chancellor's Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002–03.

Rosie Winterton: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers visits overseas. Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 were published on 24 July 2002, Official Report, 75W). The cost of Ministers visits overseas for 2002–03 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Royal Peculiars

Frank Field: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will publish his response to the report on the Royal Peculiars.

Rosie Winterton: The plan to publish our response in October has been delayed pending further research; and consultations with interested parties. Once this is concluded, the Lord Chancellor will submit his recommendations to Her Majesty the Queen. The response will be published as soon as possible thereafter.

West Wiltshire Magistrates Court

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when he will make a decision on the future of West Wiltshire Magistrates Court.

Yvette Cooper: I shall make my decision as soon as practicable after considering representations made to me on this issue.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the bed occupancy rate is in the accident and emergency departments of each hospital in the West Midlands.

David Lammy: Bed occupancy figures are collected for in-patient beds, but patients in accident and emergency departments are not in-patients.

Accident and Emergency

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new nurses have been recruited to each accident and emergency department in the West Midlands in each of the last two years.

David Lammy: Figures for accident and emergency nurses are not available separately. Figures on new nurses in general are also not available because the non-medical workforce census currently measures net changes rather than leavers and joiners.

Advertising Campaigns

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his planned expenditure in 2002–03 on major advertising campaigns broken down by (a) campaigns and (b) advertising medium.

David Lammy: Major advertising campaigns planned by the Department for 2000–03 are listed in the table, giving details of advertising media and forecast expenditure.
	
		
			 Campaign Advertising media Planned cost 2002–03 (£) 
		
		
			 Appropriately Prescribed Medicine (i.e. antibiotics) Women's press and TV listings 350,000 
			 Nurse and other staff recruitment National/regional press and radio 5,062,400 
			 NHS Direct Women's press, internet advertising 795,000 
			 Organ donation Radio and six sheet posters, Asian TV and radio 245,000 
			 Smoking cessation Satellite and terrestrial TV 7,270,000 
			 Flu immunisation National TV, press, bus interiors, pharmacy bags and online 2,145,000 
			 Sexual health Radio, men's/women's magazines, washroom posters 1,500,000 
			 Teenage pregnancy Radio, teen magazines, washroom posters 1,600,000 
			 Child immunisation (i.e. MMR) TV, radio, press 1,080,000

Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the overspending by the Ashford and St. Peter's hospitals NHS trust.

Hazel Blears: Ashford and St. Peter's hospitals NHS trust is aware of the duty it has to ensure that sound financial management is practiced and also the need to achieve a break-even position at the end of the financial year. The current deficit is the subject of discussion between the trust's commissioning primary care trusts and the strategic health authority.
	On the question of the management of the trust's underlying deficit, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 October 2002, Official Report, column 402W.

Asylum-Seeking Children

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children seeking asylum who have arrived in the UK in the last five years have been placed in (a) care, (b) foster care, (c) adopted care, and (d) bed and breakfast accommodation.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the numbers of unaccompanied asylum seeking children looked after by local authorities was collected for the first time for the year ending 31 March 2002. The table shows the available information. Data on local children are included for comparison.
	The table only covers those unaccompanied children who are looked after by local authorities. It does not cover those who are supported without being looked after. The Children in Need in England survey, published by the Department in October, provides information about numbers of asylum seeking children receiving a service as children in need in a sample week in September/October 2001. However this survey does not distinguish between unaccompanied children and those with their families. Nor does it give details of the type of support, such as bed and breakfast accommodation, provided. The information can be accessed at www.doh.gov.uk/cin/cinlatables.htm.
	
		Number of children looked after by local councils at 31 March 2002 by placement and asylum seeking status—England
		
			  Unaccompanied asylum seeking children Local children  
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Foster care 1,310 60 37,925 66 
			 Placed for adoption — — 3,585 6 
			 Living independently(35) 250 12 865 2 
			 Other placements 620 28 15,145 26 
			 Total 2,185 100 57,525 100 
		
	
	(35) Living independently includes flats, bedsits, lodgings with no formal support and bed and breakfast accommodation.
	Note:
	All figures have been rounded to the nearest 5; X—" indicates a figure is less than 5 and has been suppressed for reasons of confidentiality.

Breast Cancer

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government expect to receive the findings of the Cancer Research UK study on the possible association between induced abortion and breast cancer.

Hazel Blears: Departmental officials are in touch with the Cancer Research UK study, which is considering the full range of potential risk factors for breast cancer. This is an important and complex international research project. No firm time frame for the publication of results has been set by Cancer Research UK at the present time.

British Medical Association

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next intends to meet the Chairman of the BMA.

David Lammy: Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the XMinisterial Code", the XCivil Service Code" and XGuidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists". Some of these discussions take place on a confidential basis, and in order to preserve confidentiality, it is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

Cancer

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of cancer referral target times were being missed in each hospital trust in (a) 2002 and (b) 2001.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 25 November 2002
	The two week waiting time target from urgent referral by a general practitioner for patients with suspected cancer, to first out-patient appointment was introduced for urgent cases of suspected breast cancer from April 1999 and was extended to all other urgent cases of suspected cancer during 2000. Performance data against the standard for 2001 and the first quarter of 2002 have been placed in the Library. Data for non-urgent referrals are not collected centrally.

Chernobyl

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what health studies have been carried out in the United Kingdom population on the impact of radiation, following the Chernobyl accident in April 1986.

Hazel Blears: Two large European studies were commissioned in the early 1990s to study the possible health effects of Chernobyl fallout in the European childhood population. The United Kingdom population is included in these studies. The studies are known as the European Childhood Leukaemia-Lymphoma Incidence study (ECUS) and the European Childhood Abnormality Study (EUROCAS). The results produced so far show no health detriment linked to Chernobyl fallout. Results are consistent with current estimates of risk from radiation exposure. However, further work continues and more detailed results are expected in the future. The thyroid cancer research group, which made a valued contribution to the investigation of the increased incidence of thyroid cancer in children in Belarus, Ukraine and the Russian Federation following the Chernobyl accident, is planning a comparative study of childhood thyroid cancer between Britain, Poland and Belarus. Other much smaller studies have been drawn to our attention but the very small number of cases involved makes these studies very difficult to evaluate.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the policy is of his Department in relation to the reimbursement of Central London road user charges incurred by its employees.

David Lammy: holding answer 19 November 2002
	Staff who are required to drive vehicles on official business within the charging zone will be reimbursed the charge. All civil servants are responsible for payment of their own every day home to office travel costs.

Correspondence

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the hon. Member for Esher and Walton's letter of 19 June PO ref: 1016938.

Hazel Blears: A reply was sent on 19 November.

Deep Vein Thrombosis

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the delay in commencing the World Health Organisation's large epidemiological study into thrombo-embolic disease and air travel.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	Insufficient offers of funding were made to allow the full scope of the planned research to go forward (including the large prospective epidemiological study). Following a delay, as details of a new programme and the necessary contractual arrangements were worked out, contracts have now been signed and work is set to start on 1 January 2003.

Delayed Discharges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) acute trusts and (b) PCTs have set up pooled budgets with social services departments to tackle delayed discharge.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 2 December 2002
	16 pooled budget schemes have been notified to the Department which explicitly address the reduction of delayed discharge as a target. Of these 13 involve both acute trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs), and three involve only PCTs as partners with local authorities. None involves only acute trusts and local authorities.

Delayed Discharges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (a) how many people and (b) how long over 75s experienced delayed discharge, broken down by (i) elective and (ii) emergency admissions in each region in the last quarter of 2002–03.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Digital Television

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources he intends to devote in 2002–08 to the rollout of digital television to aid the modernisation of the NHS.

David Lammy: A programme of work is to begin to develop a version of NHS Direct for digital television and to make it available nationwide. This programme will commence in 2003 with national broadcasting by 2004. Expenditure in the first few years will depend on contracts yet to be awarded but is expected to be not less than £5 million a year. Expenditure in the later years of the period will depend on the success of the earlier years and on the range of services that are demonstrated to be attractive to the public, helpful to the national health service and good value for money.

Doctor: Population Ratio

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio of doctors to people is in England.

John Hutton: Figures produced by the Department currently show figures for national health service doctors only. We are working with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to determine the most reliable way to present data for all doctors, with a view to providing more representative figures for the international comparisons published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
	The table shows the ratio of NHS doctors to people in England.
	
		NHS doctors: hospital, public health medicine and community health service (HCHS) medical and dental staff and general practitioners in England—at 30 September 2001
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 All NHS doctors(36) 100,320 
			 Of which:  
			 All general medical practitioners(36),(37) 31,840 
			 and  
			 HCHS medical and dental staff(36),(38) 68,480 
			 Population(36) 49,181,340 
			 Doctors per 100,000 population(39) 204 
		
	
	(36) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	(37) All practitioners include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, restricted principal, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (para 52 SFA), PMS other and GP retainers.
	(38) Excludes hospital medical hospital practitioners and clinical assistants most of whom are GPs and will have been included already.
	(39) Calculated using unrounded figures.
	Note:
	Population data are based on ONS 2001 census estimates.
	Sources:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics. Office of National Statistics

Drug Addiction Treatment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are receiving treatment for drug addiction in the West Midlands; and how many people were receiving treatment on 30 November (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001.

David Lammy: Information is not available in the form requested. The information available for drug users presenting to drug treatment agencies and general practitioners in the West Midlands in the six-month periods from 1 October 1998–31 March 1999 to 1 October 2000–31 March 2001 is given in the table.
	
		
			 Six-month period ending Number of users 
		
		
			 31 March 1999 1,741 
			 30 September 1999 2,139 
			 31 March 2000 2,381 
			 30 September 2000 2,572 
			 31 March 2001 2,655 
		
	
	Note:
	The data are from the Department of Health series of statistical bulletins, XStatistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases".
	http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/work_public_health.htm_SDD
	A 'census' of drug users in treatment was carried out in 2000 to estimate the number of drug users in England in contact with drug treatment agencies in 2000–01. The number of drug users reported as being in contact with agencies in the West Midlands was 8,843. These data were published in a statistical bulletin, XStatistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases on Drug Misusers in Treatment in England, 2000–01", in December 2001. http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0133.htm

Elderly Care (Community Hospitals)

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds for the elderly in community hospitals are provided in each (a) strategic health authority and (b) local authority.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected for individual hospital sites. The data are collected by national health service trust, which could incorporate more than one hospital.
	Information on the number of beds by sector, including geriatric in each NHS trust, is available from the Department of Health's website at www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity and has been placed in the Library.

Flu Immunisation

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2002, on flu immunisation, (ref. 83320), what the national average take-up by the over-65s of flu vaccinations was;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2002, on flu immunisation, Official Report, column 135W, what percentage of over 65s in west Sussex to be immunised against flu were over 85 years old; and what percentage this represented as a whole for the county.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 2 December 2002
	Nationally, the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) monitor the uptake of flu immunisations in those aged 65 years and over only. The number of those aged 85 and over receiving a flu immunisation is not available. Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority has advised me that information is also only available locally on the same 65 and over basis.
	Monitoring figures from the PHLS at the end of October, show that the national average of those aged 65 and over receiving their free flu immunisation was 55 per cent.

Foreign Nurse Recruitment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual cost of running the NHS Overseas Nurses Advice Line was in the last six months.

John Hutton: holding answer 25 November 2002
	The annual cost of the national health service overseas nurses advice line will not be available until March 2003.

Foster Carers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 136W, regarding recruitment of foster carers, how many people requested information packs; how many people who requested information packs subsequently became foster carers; and whether there is a shortage of foster carers.

Jacqui Smith: Over 6,000 people contacted the call centre and were sent information packs. Of these, 1,000 were converted into completed expression of interest forms. It is unclear exactly how many foster carers were recruited as a result of the campaign, as local authorities subsequently had their own campaigns, and not all those who applied will have got to final approval. The Department does not collect figures on the number of approved foster carers.

Health and Neighbourhood Renewal Guidance

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of (a) writing and (b) producing XHealth and Neighbourhood Renewal: Guidance from the Department of Health and the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit-2002".

Hazel Blears: Development of the guidance document cost £10,000, with a further £10,995 for producing and distributing hard copies. The guidance is also available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/healthinequalities and has been placed in the Library.

Health Care (Tamworth/Sutton Coldfield)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average amount of money allocated to the health care of residents in the (a) Tamworth and (b) Sutton Coldfield constituencies was in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: Primary care trusts commission health care for their populations. The primary care trusts for Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield constituencies are respectively Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth and North Birmingham.
	Health authorities share their recurrent revenue allocations between their primary care trusts in line with guidance issued by the Department. Primary care trust shares of 2002–03 health authority recurrent revenue allocations per head of population are £718 for Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth and £773 for North Birmingham.

Horton Hospital, Epsom

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government has changed the price at which it is offering to sell land at Horton hospital in Epsom to local housing associations during the past two years.

David Lammy: Horton hospital is one of five former mental hospitals in the Epsom area.
	A proportion of the land from these sites will be for affordable housing. The planning permission provides that sale of the affordable housing to housing associations will be at 40 per cent. of the open market value—as land values change, the sale price for affordable housing will also change.

Hospital Hygiene

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the last hygiene spot check inspection in English hospitals took place; and if he will publish the findings.

David Lammy: The NHS Plan announced that all hospitals would receive unannounced inspections of cleanliness by independent inspection teams. Since 2000 the patient environment action team (PEAT) programme has been undertaking inspections against a range of environmental criteria, including cleanliness. The PEAT visit is not a hygiene inspection.
	This is a continuous programme of inspection, which has seen a massive improvement in the standards seen by patients and visitors alike. A programme of visiting to mental health and learning disabilities sites is currently under way.
	The last inspection of acute and community hospitals was undertaken between February and May 2002 and the results of this exercise will be published in due course on the NHS Estates website.

Hospital Hygiene

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what improvement has been made by hospitals which had previously been put on special measures as a result of their poor hygiene standards.

David Lammy: The NHS Plan said that hospitals would receive unannounced inspections of cleanliness by independent teams.
	Since autumn 2000 these inspections have been undertaken by patient environment action teams (PEATs), who assess hospitals against a range of 18 criteria, including standards of cleanliness at ward level and in common areas.
	Since August 2001 PEATs have confirmed that there are no hospitals where overall standards are less than acceptable.
	However, there are some hospitals where, although overall acceptable levels have been achieved, we felt that there were grounds for additional support to be provided to ensure that standards are maintained and any shortfalls identified remedied.
	Following the most recent PEAT inspections, 52 hospitals were identified where such support has been deemed appropriate. NHS Estates advisers have been working closely with these hospitals, to ensure that remedial action is taken and appropriate systems put in place to ensure that the improved standards achieved are maintained.
	To date this action has resulted in 24 of the hospitals being removed from the list of those requiring additional support. We continue to work with the remaining 28 hospitals to ensure that the standards in these hospitals reach and remain at levels which patients expect and have a right to receive.

Hospital Security

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to increase hospital security.

David Lammy: holding answer 2 December 2002
	It is the responsibility of individual national health service trusts to ensure that an appropriate security strategy is in place to provide a safe and secure environment for patients, staff and visitors in NHS hospitals. The procedures to be put in place are decided at a local level as they depend very much on the design and physical layout of individual hospital sites.
	The NHS Security Manual is a practical guide to addressing the full range of security issues within health care organisations. It is currently being re-written.

Hospital Security

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has allocated funding to hospital trusts to be spent on increased security measures for staff and patients in hospitals.

David Lammy: It is the responsibility of individual national health service trusts to ensure that an appropriate security strategy is in place to provide a safe and secure environment for patients, staff and visitors in NHS hospitals.
	Procedures to be put in place are made at a local level, as they depend very much on the design and physical layout of the individual hospital sites. Additional funding is being made available to the NHS as part of the average annual real terms increase of 7.4 per cent., across England over the years 2003–08. Trust management will decide what funding levels will be needed to meet their security needs.
	The NHS Security Manual is a practical guide to addressing the full range of security issues within health care organisations. It is currently being re-written.

Hospital, Pease Pottage

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for assessing the proposal to build a new hospital at Pease Pottage.

Hazel Blears: The appraisal of this option is still continuing. At this time I cannot give the right hon. Member a firm date for completion of this process.

Hospitals (Hotel Charges)

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list hospitals which charge for (a) television services, (b) telephone access and (c) internet access.

David Lammy: Major acute hospitals are introducing bedside television and telephones (Patient Power) under the NHS Plan. The introduction of these services is free to national health service trusts. Patients pay a charge for the services. 61 hospitals now have an operational patient power system and of these seven currently have internet access. The following list shows these hospitals.
	Addenbrooke's Hospital
	Basildon Hospital
	Bishop Auckland General Hospital
	Broadgreen Hospital
	Broomfield Hospital
	Buckland Hospital
	Cheltenham General Hospital
	Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital
	Christie Hospital
	Churchill Hospital
	Cumberland Infirmary
	Darlington Memorial Hospital
	Eastbourne District General Hospital
	Epsom General Hospital
	Fairfield General Hospital
	Frimley Park Hospital
	Good Hope Hospital
	Homerton Hospital
	Horton General Hospital
	Hull Royal Infirmary
	John Radcliffe Hospital
	Kent and Canterbury Hospital
	Kingston Hospital
	Leicester Royal Infirmary
	Luton and Dunstable Hospital
	Mayday University Hospital
	Norfolk and Norwich Hospital
	North Tyneside General Hospital
	Northwick Park Hospital
	Poole General Hospital
	Princess Anne Hospital
	Queen Alexandra Hospital (Redditch)
	Queen Elizabeth Hospital
	Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital
	Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospital
	Rotherham District General Hospital
	Royal Bolton Hospital
	Royal Bournemouth Hospital
	Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford)
	Royal Free Hospital
	Royal Hampshire County Hospital
	Royal Liverpool University Hospital
	Royal Marsden Hospital (Site 2—Fulham Road)
	Royal Surrey County Hospital
	Salisbury District Hospital
	Southampton General Hospital
	Southport and Formby District General Hospital
	St. Helier Hospital
	St. James University Hospital
	Staffordshire General Hospital
	The Alexandra Hospital
	The City Hospital
	The Royal Oldham Hospital
	University Hospital Aintree
	University Hospital of North Durham (formerly Dryburn Hospital)
	Victoria Hospital —Blackpool
	Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery
	William Harvey Hospital
	Worcester Royal Infirmary (Ronkswood)
	Wycombe General Hospital
	Wythenshawe Hospital
	Note:
	Hospitals in italic provide internet access.

International Recruitment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which developing countries have offered warm support, as stated by a Department of Health spokesman on 26 November, for the Government's approach to ethical international recruitment.

John Hutton: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The following developing countries have offered their support for the Government's approach to ethical international recruitment:
	Barbados
	China
	Egypt
	Georgia
	India
	Indonesia
	Iran
	Jamaica
	Philippines
	South Africa.

Liverpool Blood Centre

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the work of the Liverpool Blood Centre.

Hazel Blears: In 1999, the Government made a commitment to develop and expand the Liverpool Blood Centre. A new building to house the Liverpool Blood Centre is currently under construction. The centre at Estuary Commerce Park in Speke, Garston will replace the existing premises adjacent to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Completion of the construction phase is expected by mid-October 2003, and occupation is anticipated in summer 2004.
	Almost all services currently carried out at the existing premises will transfer to the new centre. Those services that have to be carried out in a hospital environment will remain at the Royal Liverpool Hospital. The new Liverpool Blood Centre will also house, for the first time, the largest National Blood Service tissue banking facility in the United Kingdom. Research and development facilities at the new centre will support both tissue banking and tissue engineering.

Mental Health

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards implementing NICE guidance on the use of atypical anti-psychotic medicines for schizophrenia; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the Member for East Worthing and Shoreham, (Tim Loughton) on 27 November 2002, Official Report, column 356W.

Mixed Wards (Epsom Hospital)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for the complete phasing out of mixed wards at Epsom Hospital.

John Hutton: Epsom and St. Helier is working towards the elimination of mixed sex wards in order to provide patients with appropriate levels of privacy and dignity while in hospital. The trust is currently undertaking works to refurbish Nightingale wards for older people, which will provide privacy and peace within a single-sex environment. The trust's programme of works extends until April 2004.

Mumps Vaccines

Andrew Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his policy that the Medicines Control Agency should limit the maximum number of authorisations for imports of MMR SepVax (Mumps) doses; what the equivalent is in daily individual doses of the number of authorisations of MMR SepVax (Mumps) vaccines which the MCA is approving; and if he will make a statement on (a) the availability of MMR SepVax (Mumps) in relation to demand for vaccination and (b) the delays which customers are experiencing in obtaining supplies of MMR SepVax (Mumps) vaccines.

Hazel Blears: Single mumps vaccines being prescribed and administered, as part of single measles, mumps and rubella vaccination programmes such as MMR SepVax, are unlicensed imported medicines. Medicines legislation allows a doctor or dentist to prescribe an unlicensed medicine to meet the special clinical needs of his individual patients, on his direct personal responsibility. Importers of all unlicensed medicines, who are licensed by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), must notify the agency on each occasion they intend importing an unlicensed medicine and there is a legal restriction on the maximum quantity they may import per notification. The MCA can object to importation if it has safety concerns or if an equivalent licensed medicine is available. This applies to all imported unlicensed medicines; there is no policy of specifically restricting unlicensed single measles and mumps vaccines.
	The average numbers of notifications per month received by the MCA to import all brands of single mumps vaccine during the last three years were as follows.
	
		
			 Year Doses 
		
		
			 2000 69 
			 2001 1,483 
			 2002 3,014 
		
	
	These are the numbers of doses notified to the MCA for importation and do not necessarily relate to the number of doses actually imported.
	The current shortage of unlicensed single mumps vaccine and delays in their reaching patients are believed to be due to:
	An international shortage of single mumps vaccine, resulting from the halting of production by a major supplier, combined with;
	Safety concerns about vaccines containing the Urabe and Leningrad-Zagreb strains of mumps virus;
	Efficacy concerns about vaccines containing the Rubini strain of mumps virus;
	The recent need to obtain further information on the safety and efficacy of another unlicensed single vaccine claiming to contain a Jeryl Lynn strain of mumps virus.

NHS Clinical Compliance

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to monitor NHS clinical compliance with NICE recommendations.

David Lammy: It is not feasible to monitor centrally every clinical decision for consistency with National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance. Clinicians have to make independent clinical judgments, taking due account of NICE'S advice and the strength of evidence which lies behind it. They may depart from the advice if in their view the circumstances of the individual patient justify doing so, but they will be held accountable (through clinical governance arrangements) for their clinical decisions.

NHS Dentists

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio was of NHS general dental practitioners to population; and how many NHS general dental practitioners there were in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire in each year since 1 January 1996.

David Lammy: holding answer 3 December 2002
	The number of general dental service (GDS) practitioners in Buckinghamshire health authority (HA) area at 30 September and the ratio of GDS practitioners per 100,000 population is shown in the table for the years 1996 to 2001.
	The number of GDS dentists and ratio of dentists per population in Chesham and Amersham are not centrally available.
	The total number of GDS dentists covers principals on a HA list, their assistants and vocational dental practitioners.
	
		General dental services: Number(40) of GDS dentists at 30 September and ratio of GDS practitioners per 100,000 population(41), 1996 to 2001—Buckinghamshire health authority
		
			  Number of dentists  
			 Year At 30 September Per 100,000 population 
		
		
			 1996 238 35.4 
			 1997 265 39.1 
			 1998 260 38.1 
			 1999 281 40.8 
			 2000 272 39.3 
			 2001 294 42.8 
		
	
	(40) Dentists are principals on a HA list, assistants and vocational dental practitioners.
	(41) ONS 1996 to 2000 mid year population estimates based on the 1991 census. ONS 2001 mid year population estimate is based on 2001 census; using a population estimate based on 1991 census would change the 2001 dentists per 100,000 population figure to 42.0.

NHS Estate

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the aggregated results of the Estate Return Information Collection annual condition survey for 2000–01 and 2001–02; for what reason publication has been delayed; and if he will publish results of future ERIC surveys within six months of the survey's completion.

David Lammy: Since 2000, estate return information collection (ERIC) data can be entered on line, which provides trusts with 'real time' calculations of their performance indicator information together with comparative benchmarking data from trusts of the same type.
	A detailed analysis of performance data extracted from the ERIC is currently being undertaken with the view to publishing a hard copy report next year that will cover the three year period, 1999–2000 to 2001–02.

NHS Land

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the value of land with development potential held by the NHS, broken down (a) by NHS trust and (b) by strategic health authority region.

David Lammy: No such assessment has been centrally made.
	National health service trusts are responsible for the management and disposal of their estate. In preparing their estate strategies, NHS trusts will have regard to the current and future operational needs and will consider potential value for alternative uses.
	The spending review identifies the following receipts by NHS trusts from the sale of surplus land and buildings.
	
		£ million 
		
			 Year Receipts 
		
		
			 2002–03 55 
			 2003–04 158

NHS Special Trustees

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what requirement there is on the special trustees of each of the London teaching hospitals to consider the health needs of (a) London as a whole and (b) the area of London the hospital services, when making decisions as to the use of assets and income under their control;
	(2)  if he will introduce an equalisation scheme for the use of assets and income held by NHS special trustees;
	(3)  if he will reform the system of special trustees operating in NHS hospitals to increase accountability for decisions on spending; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will list the special trustees for each of the London (a) non-teaching NHS acute trusts and (b) teaching hospitals; how they are accountable for decisions; how they are appointed; what total value of (i) capital investments, (ii) other capital assets, and (iii) income they supervise; what projects over £100,000 they have financed in each of the last three years; what projects they intend to fund over £100,000 in the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: Special trustees hold and administer charity funds in accordance with trust and charity law, which requires them to comply with the trusts on which they are held. They are regulated in England and Wales by the Charity Commission and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health quite properly does not have powers to amend these trusts. Decisions about how funds are to be applied rest with the trustees, who are accountable to the Charity Commission. Special trustees are only able to hold funds mainly or wholly for the hospitals for which they are appointed.

NHS Trusts (Deficits)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts ran financial deficits; and what the aggregate amount of the deficits was, in financial year 2001–02.

John Hutton: holding answer 2 December 2002
	50 national health services trusts reported an income and expenditure account deficit in their 2001–02 annual accounts. These 50 deficits aggregate to £69,328,000.

NICE

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what criteria members of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence's Citizens' Council are selected; and how many members of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence's Citizens' Council are over (a) 60, (b) 70 and (c) 75 years.

David Lammy: The recruitment to the citizens' council was carried out by an independent specialist company. This company advertised for applicants, then used a combination of random selection and telephone interviews, while also ensuring that the final council is representative of all age groups, social circumstances, ethnic backgrounds, regional differences and abilities in order to provide a cross section of opinion.
	Six members of the citizens council are aged over 60 years, one is aged over 70 years and one is over 75 years.

Operating Theatres

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which was the first primary care based accredited operating theatre in the country.

David Lammy: This information is not held or collected centrally.

Organ Donation

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to promote voluntary organ donations and the carrying of donor cards.

David Lammy: We are taking specific action to increase the number of donors available by investing in initiatives to raise public awareness and the benefits of organ transplantation, particularly in the ethnic populations where there may be a greater need for transplantation, implementing measures to ensure that potential donors are identified and that we increase the use of both living and non-heartbeating donation.
	Nearly £4 million is being invested in the national health service through UK Transplant to boost the number of life-saving organ transplants. This is funding 35 donor liaison schemes to improve procedures for identifying possible organ donors and the steps to take, so that relatives are approached and given the opportunity to decide about donation. It is also supporting 25 living donation programmes, 10 additional transplant coordinators and six non-heartbeating donor programmes.

Overseas Nurses Advice Line

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dedicated teams of staff with health careers expertise are working on the NHS overseas nurses advice line.

John Hutton: holding answer 2 December 2002
	There is a dedicated team of staff with health careers expertise who are able to offer advice on supervised practice and national health service careers to nurses who ring the NHS overseas nurses advice line.

Oviedo Convention

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on signing the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Biomedicine (Oviedo Convention).

Hazel Blears: The Convention covers a wide range of complex ethical and legal issues, many of which have been, and remain, actively under debate in the United Kingdom over recent years. The Government wish to consider the conclusions of these debates before reaching a final view on signature and ratification of the Convention.

Pain Management

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent measures he has taken to ensure that local prescribing guidelines are in place governing the prescription of powerful pain relieving and sedative medicines throughout the NHS.

David Lammy: Following the devolution of power to locally-run services, it is the role of primary care trusts (PCTs) to develop such local prescribing guidelines to suit their needs in conjunction with appropriate local clinicians. Local treatment guidelines, including those for powerful pain relieving and sedative medicines, should be in place and overseen by local drug and therapeutics committees.
	We are supporting good local prescribing in a number of ways. The systems for clinical and cost effective use of medicines are covered by the Department's medicines management performance management framework. This framework focuses on secondary care and has been developed recently to strengthen working links with PCTs. We have also commissioned the National Prescribing Centre to produce guidance on good practice in managing controlled drug issues in primary care in the national health service. It is hoped to publish the guide in spring 2003. In addition, we are developing a guide, for use by PCTs and out-of-hours primary care providers, which will contain a minimum list of drugs that patients should be able to access from all such providers during evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Perioperative Deaths

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the finding by the National Confidential Inquiry into Perioperative Deaths on the impact on patient care in the NHS the availability and maintenance of medical records; and what measures he plans to take to address this issue.

David Lammy: The Department is aware of problems with paper based medical records including their lack of availability, legibility, difficulty in finding particular items of information, limited life-span and general lack of structure in them.
	The answer to these problems and others concerning the use of this type of record is to replace them with electronic ones.
	The delivery of electronic records is now being taken forward as part of the integrated care record service (ICRS), in implementing the national strategic programme, XDelivering 21st Century IT Support for the NHS".

Prescriptions (Anti-malarial Drugs)

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions were issued for anti-malarial drugs in the UK in 2001; and how many were NHS prescriptions.

David Lammy: In 2001, 2,419,400 national health service prescriptions for anti-malarial drugs were dispensed in the community in England. We do not hold information on hospital or private prescriptions, or for the other United Kingdom administrations.

Public Health Laboratories

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of how the outputs of Public Health Laboratory Service Groups of laboratories will be sustained from April 2003.

Hazel Blears: I expect the outputs of those public health laboratory service laboratories that are transferring to national health service trusts to be sustained at the present level. They are being transferred with the resources necessary to maintain their outputs and the new posts of regional public health microbiologists will be positioned to facilitate their public health output.

Public Health Laboratories

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what cost-benefit analysis has been carried out by his Department into laboratory transfers from the (a) Public Health Laboratory Service, (b) National Radiological Protection Board, (c) Centre for Applied Microbiology Research and (d) National Focus for Chemical Incidents to a Health Protection Agency.

Hazel Blears: The bodies listed are all to be subsumed into the proposed Health Protection Agency in their entirety, after the public health laboratory service (PHLS) has transferred to national health service trusts some 30 of its laboratories that carry out general clinical diagnostic microbiology. These are the only laboratory transfers involved in creating the proposed Health Protection Agency.
	The benefits of transferring laboratories of the PHLS to NHS trusts include:
	They are essential to create a comprehensive, coherent surveillance system, as described in the Chief Medical Officer's strategy XGetting Ahead of the Curve".
	They will broaden the number of clinical staff required to report the occurrence of infectious diseases.
	They will place a duty of care on all microbiology laboratories to report for public health surveillance purposes.
	Generally, the transfers will bring public health activities within the mainstream of the NHS.
	The creation of the Health Protection Agency is to be carried out at no overall cost.

Readmissions

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients have been re-admitted to hospital within two months of their discharge, in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Restaurant Menus

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received requesting legislation to require restaurants to list the calorie content of food and drink on the menus.

Hazel Blears: None, and neither the Government nor the Food Standards Agency has any plans to introduce legislation requiring the calorie content of food and drink to be given on menus.

Social Service Care

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) children, (b) older people, (c) people aged 16–59 years with learning difficulties and (d) others, received social service care in (i) Northumberland, (ii) North Yorkshire, (iii) Cumbria, (iv) Herefordshire, (v) Shropshire, (vi) Rutland, (vii) Devon, (viii) Lincolnshire, (ix) East Riding of Yorkshire, (x) Wiltshire, (xi) Wandsworth, (xii) Southwark, (xiii) Camden, (xiv) Tower Hamlets, (xv) Hackney, (xvi) Lambeth, (xvii) Hammersmith and Fulham, (xviii) Westminster, (xix) Islington and (xx) Kensington and Chelsea, in 2001–02.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The latest data for children can be found in the table B of the publication Children in Need in England: Results of a survey of activity and expenditure as reported by Local Authority Social Services' Children and Families Teams for a survey week in September/October 2001: Local Authority Tables', a copy of which will be placed in the Library. This publication is available on the Department's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/cin/cin2001.htm.
	Local authority information for adults is available by client group for the age groups 18–64 and 65 or over from table P1.1 of the XCommunity Care Statistics 2000–01: Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care (RAP) for adults". This publication is available on the Department's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/comcare2001/ccstats2001.htm. This omits authorities which did not provide information for the 2000–01 RAP census. National data for 2001–02 will be published in 2003.

Suicide

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths from suicide were recorded of (a) doctors and (b) nurses, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Evan Harris, dated 4 December 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths were recorded of (a) doctors and (b) nurses, in each of the last ten years for which figures are available. (84971)
	Figures requested for each year from 1992 to 2001 are given in the table below. Occupations are coded by ONS using the Standard Occupational Classification. For deaths to 2000, the version first published in 1990 (SOC 90) was used. A revised and updated classification, SOC 2000, was used to code deaths for 2001 and is in current use. Figures for 2001 are therefore not comparable with those for earlier years.
	
		Number of deaths from suicide and injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposefully inflicted(42), for doctors and nurses(43), England and Wales, 1992 to 2001(44)
		
			 Year Doctors Nurses 
		
		
			 1992 18 56 
			 1993 18 52 
			 1994 25 64 
			 1995 13 61 
			 1996 13 54 
			 1997 16 55 
			 1998 17 56 
			 1999 17 56 
			 2000 22 74 
			 2001 21 37 
		
	
	(42) Cause of death defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (1CD-9) codes E950-E959 and E980-E989 excluding E988.8 for the years 1992 to 2000, and, for the year 2001, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (1CD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y1O-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending.
	(43) Last gainful occupation of the deceased for persons aged 16 to 74. For years 1992 to 2000 occupations defined using SOC 90 classification codes 220 (medical practitioners) and 340 (nurses). For 2001 occupations defined using SOC 2000 classification codes 2211 (medical practitioners) and 3211 (nurses).
	(44) Figures are for deaths registered in 1992 and for deaths occurring in each calendar year from 1993 to 2001.

Sustainable Development

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the sustainability strategy is for his Department; and if he will make a statement on how it has changed since the world Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

David Lammy: The Department contributes fully to the Government's sustainable development strategy and its policies are an integral part of, and fully compatible with, the aims of sustainable development.
	The Department's stated overall purpose is to contribute to the Government's objectives of building a fair, inclusive and economically thriving society which includes improving and protecting the health and social well being of the people of England.
	We are currently reviewing our existing sustainable development strategy and will be consulting the sustainable development commission as part of this process. In revising our strategy we will have regard to the discussions at the world summit on sustainable development (WSSD). We have recently published a new Department of Health sustainable development web page, which refers to the important outcomes of WSSD, at www.doh.qov.uk/sustainabledevelopment/index.htm.

Voluntary Organisations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which voluntary organisations and charities he and his departmental Ministers expect to meet during December; and what issues they expect to discuss.

David Lammy: Ministers and civil servants have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals as part of the process of policy development and analysis. As with previous Administrations, it is not this Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists.

Walsgrave Hospital

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were on waiting lists at Walsgrave Hospital in each month over the last three years.

David Lammy: The information on in-patient day case waiting lists at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust is shown in the table.
	
		In-patient/day case waiting list at month end
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999–2000  
			 April 1999 6,988 
			 May 1999 7,155 
			 June 1999 7,535 
			 July 1999 7,533 
			 August 1999 7,600 
			 September 1999 7,685 
			 October 1999 7,609 
			 November 1999 7,363 
			 December 1999 7,405 
			 January 2000 7,343 
			 February 2000 6,470 
			 March 2000 6,099 
			 2000–01  
			 April 2000 5,834 
			 May 2000 5,969 
			 June 2000 6,100 
			 July 2000 6,030 
			 August 2000 5,729 
			 September 2000 5,648 
			 October 2000 5,676 
			 November 2000 5,956 
			 December 2000 6,070 
			 January 2001 6,442 
			 February 2001 6,287 
			 March 2001 5,943 
			 2001–02  
			 April 2001 6,358 
			 May 2001 6,525 
			 June 2001 6,651 
			 July 2001 6,374 
			 August 2001 6,498 
			 September 2001 6,414 
			 October 2001 6,533 
			 November 2001 6,700 
			 December 2001 6,729 
			 January 2002 7,261 
			 February 2002 7,242 
			 March 2002 7,067 
			 2002–03  
			 April 2002 7,150 
			 May 2002 7,357 
			 June 2002 7,408 
			 July 2002 7,623 
			 August 2002 7,775 
			 September 2002 7,846 
			 October 2002 9,114 
		
	
	Source:
	Trust KH07ms Monthly Waiting List Returns

Walsgrave Hospital

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of operations were cancelled shortly before they were due to be performed in the Walsgrave Hospital in the last year for which figures are available; and how many of these cancellations were due to a lack of beds.

David Lammy: The number of last minute cancellations for non-clinical reasons at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire National Health Service Trust in the quarter to June 2002 was 133. As a proportion of activity, finished first consultant episodes, this was 1.5 per cent.
	Information on the reasons for these non-clinical cancellations is not available.
	Source:
	University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.

Walsgrave Hospital

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants were employed at Walsgrave Hospital in each of the last three years.

David Lammy: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Consultants in University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, 1999–2002
		
			  Consultants 
		
		
			 1999 162 
			 2000 168 
			 2001 185 
			 2002 195 
		
	
	Note:
	Data as at 30 September each year.
	Source:
	Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.

Walsgrave Hospital

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the consultants at Walsgrave Hospital have in the last 12 months been appointed.

David Lammy: Since 1 April 2002, nine consultants have been appointed to the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire National Health Service Trust—six as replacements and three in newly created posts.
	Source:
	University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

CABINET OFFICE

E-Envoy

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many consultants were used and employed by the e-Envoy in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02; and what they cost in each year.

Douglas Alexander: The Office of the e-Envoy's expenditure on consultancy projects was £5,046,618 in 1999–2000, £3,543,147 in 2000–01 and £4,602,142 in 2001–02. No information is available on the number of staff employed by the consulting firms in delivering these projects.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Take-up

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the report of the National Audit Office on the failure of pensioners to claim their entitled benefits.

Ian McCartney: The National Audit Office report entitled XTackling pensioner poverty: Encouraging take-up of entitlements", recognises the good progress the Department has made in helping pensioners to take up their entitlements. The Government are committed to tackling pensioner poverty.
	We have already made substantial progress in taking forward the NAO recommendations, and welcome the contribution the NAO have made to informing the on-going development of take-up strategies and the Pension Service more generally. Our strategies focus on overcoming the barriers to take up and one of our key mechanisms for driving take up is the Pension Service, a new customer focused organisation dedicated to the needs of pensioners. This provides a major opportunity to further enhance the quality of our customer service by actively promoting take up. In addition to processing pension entitlements, staff will be trained to identify possible entitlement to other benefits such as housing benefit and attendance allowance. Local service staff in particular will have a significant role in encouraging take up in local communities, and work in partnership with organisations that deal with older people, as the NAO proposes.
	We have introduced a range of initiatives designed to encourage take up activity among pensioners: for the minimum income guarantee (MIG) we have undertaken a national advertising campaign, which resulted in almost an additional 140,000 claims with an average gain of £20 per week; reduced the claim form from 40 to 10 pages; introduced a MIG specific leaflet, and we are identifying potential beneficiaries through key events, such as claiming retirement pension.
	A key priority, for both Government and the Pension Service is the successful take up of the new pension credit which will enhance and replace the MIG. It has been specifically designed to be easy for pensioners to claim and to be less intrusive. The weekly means test will be abolished for the over 65s and be replaced by a statement of their circumstances every five years. Capital rules will be relaxed and the upper capital limit abolished.
	In addition we have taken this opportunity to align the eligibility rules for housing benefit and council tax benefit with pension credit. DWP staff can now verify information on behalf of the local authority and we will be introducing legislation shortly that will enable local authority staff to do the same for DWP. This means pensioners will in time only need to report their changes in circumstances to one organisation (unless tenancy or dependant related). We are also removing the need for pensioners to re-claim housing benefit every 12 months. We will cut out duplicate claim forms so from April 2003, it will be necessary to complete just one housing and council tax benefit form. These changes are a significant step to simplifying the process and we are examining the scope for introducing further simplifications over the next few years.
	Our take up plan for pension credit is extensive and makes use of a range of channels. We will transfer existing MIG recipients to pension credit, ready for payments to be made from October 2003; write to all pensioners not already receiving MIG by June 2004 to alert them to possible pension credit entitlement, supported by a national publicity campaign; work with local partners to help support the communications to pensioners, and tailor marketing and communications activity accordingly. We are setting a demanding PSA target to be paying pension credit to at least 3 million pensioner households by 2006.
	With attendance allowance and disability living allowance (AA/DLA), we are trialling new claim forms to significantly improve the way claims are made. Both claim forms were reduced from 44 pages to 34 in 2001 and we are currently trialling a shorter attendance allowance 16 page form. We are also developing a new claiming process for DLA for working age customers. First tests of the new claim pack started on 26 November. The claim form will be personalised and be the minimum size necessary for that individual's needs. If successful this approach will be extended to pensioners.
	We have accepted the NAO's recommendations for making further progress. This demonstrates the importance that the Department attaches to tackling pensioner poverty.

Adult Disadvantage

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will re-calculate the figures in the table in the answer of 27 June 2002, Official Report, column 1050W, assuming (a) that the fund remains in equities until the annuity is purchased and including also figures assuming retirement on 31 December 2001 and 30 September 2002, (b) retirement on (i) 31 December 2001 and (ii) 30 September 2002 and (c) that the fund remains in equities until five years before the annuity is purchased when half is satisfied into gilts and the remainder remains in equities until retirement, including figures assuming retirement on 31 December 2001 and 30 September 2002.

Ian McCartney: The available information, is in the tables. Table 2, includes the data underlying the graph on page 19 of 'Modernising Annuities' published by Inland Revenue and the Department for Work and Pensions in February 2001.
	It is not possible to provide information, where the date of retirement is after December 2001. This is due to data and model restrictions.
	Although a stylised model, it is the data in the second table that we believe best characterises the investment strategy of many pension funds.
	Investors will also be interested in expected pension income throughout their retirement and not just the income in the first year. The information does not give an indication of how this first figure may have increased for successive cohorts of pensioners due to increased life expectancy.
	The following assumptions have been made.
	A person contributes to a pension fund for 31 years;
	Contributions are made at 10 per cent. of gross earnings;
	Earnings in each year are £20,000 in 2000 earnings terms. The earnings growth index was supplied by the Office for National Statistics;
	50 per cent. of each year's contributions are made at the start of each year and 50 per cent. at the end of each year;
	The return on equities is in line with the FTSE 30. The same figures were used as PQ61084 to enable consistency with that answer;
	The return on gilts is in line with the Barclays Capital Total Return Index. The same figures were used as PQ61084 to enable consistency with that answer;
	A 1 per cent. fee is deducted at the end of each year
	Upon retirement on 31 December of the given year, an annuity is purchased at the prevailing rate in that year, and as indicated in the tables. The source of this Annuity Direct.
	
		Table 1—pension entitlement assuming the fund remains in equities in all years
		
			 Year started contributing Retire at end of year Years of contribution Lump sum built up (cash terms) (£) Lump sum in 2000 earnings terms (£) Annuity rate in last year of contribution (percentage) Pension at retirement (nominal terms, weekly) (£) Pension at retirement (2001 earnings terms, weekly) (£) 
		
		
			 1956 1986 31 17,681 38,694 14.1 48 105 
			 1957 1987 31 21,066 42,786 14.0 57 115 
			 1958 1988 31 23,845 44,503 13.7 63 117 
			 1959 1989 31 25,578 43,792 14.0 69 118 
			 1960 1990 31 27,866 43,460 15.2 82 127 
			 1961 1991 31 34,243 49,608 14.6 96 139 
			 1962 1992 31 41,169 56,297 13.2 105 143 
			 1963 1993 31 53,666 71,268 11.7 121 161 
			 1964 1994 31 47,497 60,865 11.6 106 135 
			 1965 1995 31 57,034 70,893 11.3 124 154 
			 1966 1996 31 60,718 72,850 11.0 129 154 
			 1967 1997 31 71,040 81,762 10.4 141 163 
			 1968 1998 31 85,598 93,743 9.4 155 169 
			 1969 1999 31 80,168 83,738 8.9 138 144 
			 1970 2000 31 85,438 85,438 9.1 149 149 
			 1971 2001 31 83,928 80,340 8.9 143 137 
		
	
	
		Table 2—pension entitlement assuming the fund switches from equities to gilts over the last 10years of growth. An extra 10 per cent. is invested in gilts in each successive year
		
			 Year started contributing Retire at end of year Years of contribution Lump sum built up (cash terms) (£) Lump sum in 2000 earnings terms (£) Annuity rate in last year of contribution (percentage) Pension at retirement (nominal terms, weekly) (£) Pension at retirement (2001 earnings terms, weekly) (£) 
		
		
			 1956 1986 31 19,209 42,037 14.1 52 114 
			 1957 1987 31 20,987 42,625 14.0 56 115 
			 1958 1988 31 21,803 40,693 13.7 57 107 
			 1959 1989 31 26,910 46,074 14.0 72 124 
			 1960 1990 31 28,666 44,707 15.2 84 131 
			 1961 1991 31 35,404 51,291 14.6 99 144 
			 1962 1992 31 40,730 55,695 13.2 104 142 
			 1963 1993 31 46,840 62,203 11.7 106 140 
			 1964 1994 31 49,102 62,921 11.6 109 140 
			 1965 1995 31 53,289 66,238 11.3 116 144 
			 1966 1996 31 56,810 68,161 11.0 120 145 
			 1967 1997 31 61,245 70,488 10.4 122 140 
			 1968 1998 31 71,329 78,116 9.4 129 141 
			 1969 1999 31 79,658 83,206 8.9 137 143 
			 1970 2000 31 75,946 75,946 9.1 133 133 
			 1971 2001 31 72,927 69,810 8.9 124 119 
		
	
	
		Table 3—pension entitlement assuming that 50 per cent. of the fund is invested in gilts in each of the last five years of growth 
		
			 Year started contributing Retire at end of year Years of contribution Lump sum built up (cash terms) (£) Lump sum in 2000 earnings terms (£) Annuity rate in last year of contribution (percentage) Pension at retirement (nominal terms, weekly) (£) Pension at retirement (2001 earnings terms, weekly) (£) 
		
		
			 1956 1986 31 20,109 44,007 14.1 54 119 
			 1957 1987 31 25,475 51,741 14.0 68 139 
			 1958 1988 31 23,487 43,835 13.7 62 116 
			 1959 1989 31 29,432 50,391 14.0 79 136 
			 1960 1990 31 29,460 45,946 15.2 86 135 
			 1961 1991 31 33,095 47,946 14.6 93 135 
			 1962 1992 31 34,374 47,005 13.2 87 120 
			 1963 1993 31 41,056 54,521 11.7 92 123 
			 1964 1994 31 44,523 57,054 11.6 99 127 
			 1965 1995 31 46,351 57,614 11.3 101 126 
			 1966 1996 31 52,045 62,444 11.0 110 132 
			 1967 1997 31 57,518 66,199 10.4 114 132 
			 1968 1998 31 67,337 73,745 9.4 122 133 
			 1969 1999 31 74,250 77,556 8.9 128 133 
			 1970 2000 31 69,928 69,928 9.1 122 122 
			 1971 2001 31 61,342 58,720 8.9 105 100

Belgium (Employment)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of impediments to employment faced by British workers in Belgium.

Nick Brown: holding answer 2 December 2002
	We are not aware of any specific impediments which face British workers in Belgium. The UK embassy produces information materials for UK nationals working in Belgium.

Employers' Liability Insurance

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will hold an inquiry into the operation of employers' liability insurance; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: holding answer 25 November 2002
	My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his statement on the pre-Budget report on 27 November that, in response to concerns about rising insurance costs, the Department for Work and Pensions will lead a formal review of the operation of employers' liability insurance.

Switzerland (Employment)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the freedom of establishment treaty between Switzerland and the EU on employment opportunities for British workers in Switzerland;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the barriers to employment faced by UK workers in Switzerland.

Nick Brown: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The freedom of movement and employment of UK workers in Switzerland is governed by an agreement between the European Community and its member states, and the Swiss Confederation which came into force on 1 June 2002, with final implementation in 2007.
	The agreement accords UK workers a right of entry, residence and access to work as employed persons or the right to establish themselves on a self-employed basis.
	Given the short period of time since it came into force, no assessment has been made of the effect of the agreement.